Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Heart Disease Management of Health Structures in Senegal

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 broke out on December 31, 2019 in China. The virus is responsible for a pandemic from March 11, 2020 which has led to a reorganization of Cardiology structures in several countries around the world, including Senegal. Our study represents the first one in Senegal to assess the impact of this pandemic on Cardiology. This was a transversal survey-study conducted online over the period from August 29 to September 20, 2020 that collected qualitative data and included health professionals in Senegal managing heart disease. We collected 131 responses from Cardiology structures. The most represented region was that of Dakar (76%) with a predominance of the public sector (84.4%). A reduction in medical and interventional activity of at least 25% has been recorded. A drop in income due to the crisis was mentioned in 63.5% of responses. The unavailable drugs were mainly represented by digitalis (31.6%). The tested professionals represented 44.1%, 12 participants were positive, 21.8% were quarantined. The participants who mentioned that their patients could not benefit from a treatment in Cardiovascular Surgery represented 52%, those who reported the death of some of their patients were 43.6%. The identified manifestations were dominated by heart failure (53.9%). The COVID-19 is responsible for a change in the care channels for Cardiology patients in Senegal, resulting in the requisition of health structures and reduction of medical and intervention activities. In times of pandemic, a reorganization of the Cardiology’s teams and structures is necessary in order to anticipate the difficulties encountered in the care.