title: Age-associated time delays in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction with primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
abstract: Multiple studies have shown that age is a significant factor associated with suboptimal treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We performed a retrospective pilot study using a chart review of patients who presented with AMI who were subsequently treated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) from November 1995 to January 1997 at our institution. Ninety-four patients met inclusion criteria, with 5 excluded for insufficient data. Mean time for "door-to-balloon" in all patients was 118 +/- 48 minutes. The mean patient age was 60 years. Mean times (minutes) for patients grouped by decades of life are as follows: 143 +/- 59 (30-39 years), 114 +/- 51 (40-49 years), 99 +/- 41 (50-59 years), 116 +/- 44 (60-69 years), 135 +/- 47 (70-79 years), and 133 +/- 133 (80 years and older). Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance ( P = 0.04). In this study, age was associated with treatment delays. There was a parabolic relationship of age with time, with a greater time delay occurring in "younger" and "older" patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA. dlee@nshs.edu
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pancu
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D009518:New York; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors