UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute Study Highlights Long Term Gains in Cardiovascular Outcomes at UH Portage Medical Center

• Rural and semi-rural communities facing a high burden of cardiovascular disease may be especially vulnerable during public health emergencies.
• Cardiovascular mortality declined after preventive screenings and expanded cardiac services were implemented in 2016 but rose 3% during the COVID-19 pandemic as access to care was disrupted.
• As access normalized, cardiovascular mortality began to decline again, underscoring the lasting impact of preventive heart and vascular care.
• This study was recently presented by Anjan Gupta, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FACP to the American Heart Association.

RAVENNA, Ohio - A new study from University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute at UH Portage Medical Center shows lasting reductions in cardiovascular mortality following investments in local cardiac care. Although the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily disrupted access and increased heart-related deaths, mortality rates have since declined as services resumed as normal, highlighting the strength of sustained cardiovascular care in semi-rural communities.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains a leading cause of death worldwide, with a disproportionately higher rate in underserved regions, where access to specialty care is limited. In rural areas including Portage County, Ohio, the focus of the study, geographic isolation has historically led to delayed treatment.

In 2016, University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute at UH Portage Medical Center launched a comprehensive cardiovascular initiative, including a more than $2 million investment to establish the county's first cardiac catheterization lab and expand preventive screening programs to address historically high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the area.

University Hospitals previously announced how the investment led to measurable improvements in the crude death rate, a measure that indicates the number of deaths occurring in a population over a given period. Between 2016 and 2019, more than 3,000 cardiac catheterizations were performed at UH Portage, the sole hospital in the county, accompanied by a notable decline in cardiovascular mortality across older age groups. The crude death rate, (CDR) a measure that indicates the number of deaths occurring in a population over a given period fell by 36% among adults ages 65-74, 21% among those 75-84, and 28% among those 85 and older, demonstrating the life-saving impact of local access to cardiovascular care.

During the COVID-19 pandemic cardiovascular mortality increased by 3%, likely reflecting disruptions in patient access to preventative and specialized healthcare. Post pandemic, mortality trends began improving again. Updated trend analysis shows the crude death rate is now lower than when interventions began a decade ago.

"What's most encouraging is that the gains achieved pre-COVID were not lost, and even improving post-pandemic," said Anjan Gupta, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FACP, interventional cardiologist at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute at UH Portage Medical Center, and the Heisler-Tsai Master Clinician in Cardiology. "This reinforces how critical continuity of cardiovascular care is, and the importance of protecting essential cardiovascular care during future public health emergencies."

This retrospective study analyzed publicly available mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER (Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) and DataOhio, calculating CDRs across all ages for overall circulatory diseases and ischemic heart disease to examine changes before and after the cath lab intervention at UH Portage Medical Center and the onset of isolation during the pandemic.

"This study shows the long-term value of investing in rural cardiovascular care and how it makes a real difference in patient outcomes," said Mehdi Shishehbor, DO, MPH, PhD, President, University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, and Angela and James Hambrick Chair in Innovation. "COVID caused disruptions, but what we're seeing at UH Portage Medical Center is inspiring. When patients can get high-quality care close to home, it saves lives."

The UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute team at UH Portage Medical Center delivers nationally recognized heart and vascular care, working seamlessly across the health system. These findings offer an encouraging outlook for heart health and provide valuable lessons for rural communities working to sustain care during times of crisis.