The use of equipment used to help heart patients fell as they stayed away from hospitals during the Covid-19 crisis.

Figures show sales for cardiac rhythm management devices slumped massively at the start of 2020. The cardiac rhythm management is a procedure when a device is inserted in the upper chest to control both the fast and slow rhythm by using electrical pulses.

Kevin Dang, of GlobalData, said: “In the first half of 2020, we saw a significant decline in monthly revenues for the cardiovascular medical device market, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Some segments within cardiovascular devices have not performed so well, such as cardiac rhythm management devices which had the largest decline.”

Other cardiac assist devices such as electrophysiology, interventional cardiology and peripheral vascular devices have fared better.

Overall the global market value for cardiovascular devices is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of six per cent to $62bn by 2025.

Approximately 50 per cent of patients in areas with a high number of cases of Covid-19 in the United States cancelled or postponed appointments.

Dang said: “Once the pandemic is under control, medical device usage and sales will soar, and cardiovascular devices will benefit immensely.”