SCAI Study Shows COVID Fears Continue to Cause Americans to Avoid Doctor Visits More people are afraid of contracting COVID than having a heart attack or stroke, findings also highlight fears and barriers among Black and Latino populations A recent Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) survey found nearly 40 percent of Americans still do not feel safe going to the doctor's office while coronavirus is still a risk. Survey respondents also said they are more afraid of catching the virus than they are of a heart attack or stroke, which may delay critical treatment. Getty Images January 18, 2021 — According to a new national survey released Jan. 13 by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), nearly 40 percent of Americans still do not feel safe going to the doctor's office while coronavirus (COVID-19) is still a risk. As the United States approaches the one-year mark of the ongoing pandemic, these results underscore concerns that many Americans are not maintaining their overall health through routine care due to fears of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2).