More patient deaths and fewer heart surgeries linked to 'COVID effect' ANI | Updated: Feb 06, 2021 14:45 IST Washington [US], February 6 (ANI): Researchers during a new study have found a sharp decline in overall heart surgery volume and an unexplained increase in deaths after coronary artery bypass grafting, due to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis. The findings of the study were published in the journal 'The Annals of Thoracic Surgery'. The research was presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. "This study was a true herculean analysis and tour de force that showed the COVID effect on adult cardiac surgery volume, trends, and outcomes," said Tom C. Nguyen, MD, from the University of California San Francisco.