The association between pre-infarction angina and care-seeking behaviors and its effects on early reperfusion rates for acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between pre-infarction angina (PA) and care-seeking behaviors and its effects on early reperfusion rates for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).


METHODS
Between November 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006, a prospective, cross-sectional, and multicenter survey was conducted in 19 hospitals in Beijing and included consecutive patients with STEMI admitted within 12 h of onset of symptoms. Data were collected by structured interviews and medical records review.


RESULTS
PA within 48 h prior to the onset of the infarction occurred in 50.4% of the 498 patients. Prior to seeking care, patients in the PA group more frequently thought the symptoms would go away (61.8% vs. 38.5%, p < 0.001) and attempted some form of self-treatment (61.0% vs. 45.3%, p = 0.001) than the patients without PA (non-PA group). Median pre-hospital delay in the PA group was longer (118 vs. 103 min, p = 0.045) than in the non-PA group. The prevalence of ambulance use in the PA group was significantly lower than in the non-PA group (31.5% vs. 43.3%, p = 0.007). Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of PA was an independent predictor of pre-hospital delay >2 h (OR 1.863, 95% CI: 1.112-2.765, p = 0.013) and non-ambulance use (OR 1.724, 95% CI: 1.185-2.670, p = 0.003). In addition, patients in the PA group had a lower early reperfusion rate (74.7% vs. 83.3%, p = 0.027), mainly because of a lower incidence of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (58.6% vs. 67.9%, p = 0.042).


CONCLUSIONS
Presence of PA was associated with longer pre-hospital delay, significantly decreased use of ambulance, and lower early reperfusion rates among patients with STEMI.
Yan
Hongbing
H
The 28th Division, Beijing Anzhen Hospital of the Capital University of Medical Science, Beijing, China.
Song
Li
L
Yang
Jingang
J
Sun
Yihong
Y
Hu
Dayi
D
D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data