Coronary care at Hutt Hospital 1980-1981.
Three hundred and forty-one patients were admitted to the coronary care unit, Hutt Hospital during twelve months from 1980-1981. Of the 60 with myocardial infarction, 75% developed symptoms at home, 49% came to hospital without first seeing a doctor and 60% arrived by ambulance. The median admission delay from onset of symptoms of infarction was 3.4 hours, one hour of which was spent in the A and E department. Only 5% of all admissions were defibrillated in the coronary care unit. The higher mortality with infarction in older patients was confirmed. The practical implications of our findings are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D009520:New Zealand; D010343:Patient Admission