Postpandemic Cardiac Mortality Rates

Studies using hospital data from 15 countries report a remarkably consistent 20% to 34% reduction in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) hospitalizations after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.1,2 Cardiac procedures also decreased, while inpatient ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) mortality increased in some countries.3 It is unclear whether these findings reflect actual changes in event rates, changes in hospital use, or limitations in using data restricted to hospitalized inpatients. To address these issues, we describe monthly and annual population-based cardiac mortality rates using state death certificate data and report actual and expected monthly cardiac death rates during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.