The effect of symptoms on prehospital delay time in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
To improve time to treatment, the effects of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) symptoms on prehospital delay time (PDT) were investigated.


METHODS
Patients with AMI completed a questionnaire on their AMI symptoms and their general knowledge of AMI symptoms.


RESULTS
In total, 116 patients completed questionnaires. The mean PDT was 7.3 ± 2.4  h; the median PDT was 2.2 h. Each patient experienced a mean of 3.6 symptoms during their AMI. PDT was significantly shorter in the following groups: patients with chest compression pain/chest discomfort, profuse sweating or dyspnoea than in patients with other symptoms; patients presenting with typical rather than atypical symptoms; patients with pain scores >6 compared with scores ≤6; patients who were aware rather than unaware of AMI symptoms. Patients actually having AMI symptoms and patients being aware of AMI symptoms were inversely correlated with PDT. There was a linear relationship between pain scores and PDT.


CONCLUSIONS
Public awareness of AMI symptoms should be enhanced, in order to shorten PDT and improve AMI survival rates.
Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China.
Yu
Y
Gao
Hui-jun
HJ
Zhang
D000368:Aged; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
Acute myocardial infarction; prehospital delay time; symptoms