The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, included data from nearly 374,000 adult patients. 

The authors explored data from more than 800 patients with coronary heart disease, sharing their findings in Plos Medicine.

Patients who were evaluated by a cardiologist were much more likely to undergo stress testing, transthoracic echocardiography and coronary angiography.

An estimated 15% of the country has now had COVID-19. 

Women were also seen less regularly by a cardiovascular specialist.

According to Abbott, similar programs have improved cath lab learning engagement by 45%.

COVID-related recommendations to stay inside may have helped some patients avoid serious heart complications.

PCI patients who used marijuana had an increased risk of bleeding events and stroke following the procedure.

“The clinical implications of this discovery are significant,” one researcher said. 

Ordering two additional exams helped provide key details for 84% of women included in the study. All patients had already undergone an angiogram.