Since the outbreak of COVID19, many health-care providers have urged patients to limit or delay non-urgent visits to minimize the risk of transmission. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been up to 48% reduction in acute myocardial infarction-related hospitalizations. There are several explanations for increased Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) associated mortality during the pandemic; the first is due to increased unwitnessed cardiac arrest. Due to a stay at home order during this time, people who live alone are at higher risk of unwitnessed cardiac events. Second, the rate of bystander CPR/shock treatment was halved compared to the non-pandemic period; the looming possibility of COVID-19 transmission may cause hesitancy to perform such activity. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with higher OHCA-related mortality.
