Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

August 6, 2020

Lifting COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Restrictions: Impact on Heart Failure Hospitalizations in Northeast Georgia

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  • Ling et al. collected data at a large, community health system in Georgia from February 1–June 12, 2020 and describe a decrease in heart failure hospitalizations during the emergency declaration and shelter-in-place periods, followed by a return to a level similar to baseline after the reopening. These data were compared to the same period in 2019 (Jan 31 to June 12).  
  • The weekly hospitalization admission rate for heart failure during weeks 1-5 (prior to emergency declaration) were comparable (27.4/week in 2019 vs. 28.2/week in 2020). During the state of emergency and shelter-in-place (weeks 6-14), the mean rate of admissions fell by 37% from 33.2/week in 2019 to 21.1/week in 2020 (p<0.001). From weeks 15-19, two weeks after the reopening, the rate returned to a similar level (28.4/week in 2019 vs. 29.8/week in 2020).  

Ling et al. (Aug 2, 2020). Lifting COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Restrictions: Impact on Heart Failure Hospitalizations in Northeast Georgia. Journal of Cardiac Failure. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2020.07.017