title: Pain assessment in acute myocardial infarction patients.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the pain intensity and duration, and to assess the pain control intervention, in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven patients (18 diabetics and 79 non-diabetics) admitted to the hospital with chest pain were included in this study. Pain was measured on the numerical rating scale (NRS) 0-10, where 0 means no pain and 10 unbearable pain. All patients were followed for 12 hours, after the last chest pain episode. The data were statistically evaluated with the Student's t-test and chi square (chi 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pain in AMI patients with diabetes mellitus was lower in intensity (P < 0.002) and shorter in duration (P < 0.000) respectively, compared with the non-diabetic AMI patients. The intensity of pain in patients with an anterior infarction tended to be higher (P < 0.03) than in those with an inferior infarction. Finally, the systolic blood pressure fell significantly (P < 0.000) 90 min after admission. No other significant differences were found.
mesh_terms: D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013997:Time Factors