Elective cardiovascular care in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: managing tragic choices

Elective cardiovascular care in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: managing tragic choices

Adam E Berman, Douglas Miller, Robert A Sorrentino, Elias A Mossialos

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant morbidity and mortality globally. As health systems grapple with caring for patients affected with COVID-19, cardiovascular procedures that are deemed ‘elective’ have been postponed. Guidelines concerning which cardiac procedures should be performed during the pandemic vary by specialty and geography in the USA. We propose a clinical heuristic to guide individual physicians and governing bodies in their decision making regarding which cardiac procedures should be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic using the behavioural economics concept of heuristics and ecological rationality.

2020

10.1136/bmjoq-2020-001069

Epidemiology and Health

Korean Society of Epidemiology

Medicine (General)