Determinants of delay between symptoms and hospital admission in 5978 patients with acute myocardial infarction. The TRACE Study Group. Trandolapril Cardiac Evaluation

Comparison of clinical profiles and care for patients with incident versus recurrent acute coronary syndromes in France: Data from the MONICA registries

Background

Recurrence is common after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In order to better assess the prognosis for patients with ACS, we compared clinical profiles, treatments, and case fatality rates for incident vs. recurrent ACS.

Methods

We enrolled 1,459 men and women (age: 35–74) living in three geographical areas covered by French MONICA registries and who had been admitted to hospital for an ACS in 2015/2016. We recorded and compared the clinical characteristics and medical care for patients with an incident vs. a recurrent ACS.

Results

Overall, 431 (30%) had a recurrent ACS. Relative to patients with an incident ACS, patients with recurrence were older (p<0.0001), had a greater frequency of NSTEMI or UA (p<0.0001), were less likely to show typical symptoms (p = 0.045), were more likely to have an altered LVEF (p<0.0001) and co-morbidities. Angioplasty was less frequently performed among patients with recurrent than incident NSTEMI (p<0.05). There were no intergroup differences in the prescription of the recommended secondary prevention measures upon hospital discharge, except for functional rehabilitation more frequently prescribed among incident patients (p<0.0001). Although the crude 1-year mortality rate was higher for recurrent cases (14%) than for incident cases (8%) (p<0.05), this difference was no longer significant after adjustment for age, sex, region, diagnosis category and LVEF.

Conclusion

Compared with incident patients, recurrent cases were more likely to have co-morbidities and to have suboptimal treatments prior to hospital stay, reinforcing the need for secondary prevention.

Outcomes in lower GI bleeding comparing weekend with weekday admission

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a common indication for hospitalization potentially requiring urgent intervention, which may not be readily available at weekends and off-hours. The aim of this study was to examine the association between weekend admission for LGIB and mortality, time to colonoscopy, length of stay, and hospital charges.

METHODS

The 2016 U.S. National Inpatient Sample (NIS) dataset was queried for admissions with a primary diagnosis of LGIB. Outcomes for weekend versus weekday admissions were compared using survey-adjusted chi-squared or bivariate correlation. Multivariable regression was then used to compare primary outcomes adjusting for the Elixhauser mortality score (a validated measure of comorbidities), colonoscopy, transfusion, shock, and hospital type.

RESULTS

An estimated 124,620 patients were admitted for LGIB in 2016. Comparing weekend with weekday admissions, there was no difference in unadjusted mortality (0.9% vs 1.0%, P = .636). Colonoscopy within the first day (28.6% vs 23.0%, P < .001) and transfusion (34.0% vs 31.5%, P < .001) were more common with weekday admissions; no differences in colonoscopy rate (60.7% vs 60.9%, P = .818), angiography rate (2.7% vs 2.7%, P = .976), mean days to colonoscopy (2.0 vs 2.0, P = .233), or length of stay (4.2 vs 4.1 days, P = .068) were seen. There was no difference in multivariable adjusted mortality rates (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-1.54; P = .495) based on the above factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Early colonoscopy (within the first day) is more common for weekday admissions, but overall outcomes are not affected by weekend admission for LGIB compared with weekday admissions.

To Be Stricken with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Grounded Theory Study of Symptom Perception and Care-seeking Behaviour

The process of perceiving symptoms of illness is complex, and many patients delay seeking care when symptoms of acute myocardial infarction occur. However delayed treatment can have great consequences for the prognosis. This article reports on a grounded theory study, the aim of which was to increase our understanding of the individual’s thoughts, feelings and actions at the onset of an acute heart attack. Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews revealed four different ways of perceiving the onset of symptoms: understanding, misinterpretation, amazement and disregard. The symptom perception categories were related to two core categories labelled health beliefs and acute reactions. Some persons were aware of risks for coronary heart disease and were ready to seek care immediately. Several others had illusions of invulnerability. Such illusions caused people to delay seeking care at the onset of symptoms of myocardial infarction.

Decade Long Trends (2001-2011) in Duration of Pre-Hospital Delay Among Elderly Patients Hospitalized for an Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Early intervention with medical and/or coronary revascularization treatment approaches remains the cornerstone of the management of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, several patient groups, especially the elderly, are known to delay seeking prompt medical care after onset of AMI-associated symptoms. Current trends, and factors associated with prolonged prehospital delay among elderly patients hospitalized with AMI, are incompletely understood.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data from a population-based study of patients hospitalized at all 11 medical centers in central Massachusetts with a confirmed AMI on a biennial basis between 2001 and 2011 were analyzed. Information about duration of prehospital delay after onset of acute coronary symptoms was abstracted from hospital medical records. In patients 65 years and older, the overall median duration of prehospital delay was 2.0 hours, with corresponding median delays of 2.0, 2.1, and 2.0 hours in those aged 65 to 74 years, 75 to 84 years, and in patients 85 years and older, respectively. There were no significant changes over time in median delay times in each of the age strata examined in both crude and multivariable adjusted analyses. A limited number of patient characteristics were associated with prolonged delay in this patient population.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this community-wide study demonstrate that delay in seeking prompt medical care continues to be a significant problem among elderly patients hospitalized with AMI. The lack of improvement in the timeliness of patients' care-seeking behavior during the years under study remains of considerable clinical and public health concern.

Women's experiences during myocardial infarction: systematic review and meta-ethnography

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this review is to identify, analyse and synthesise existing knowledge concerning female experiences during myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of knowledge about women's experiences during myocardial infarction, and a meta-synthesis is needed to synthesise existing evidence.

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-ethnography.

METHOD

A systematic review was undertaken in September 2013. Four databases were searched. Grey literature and reference lists were screened for relevant studies. Four hundred and eighty-one papers were identified and 14 were included. The method of Noblit and Hare was used in the process of conducting this review and meta-ethnography.

RESULTS

Three themes were identified. 1. 'Feeling the changes in my body', 2. 'Understanding the changes in my body' and 3. 'Acting on the changes in my body'. The majority of women did not experience their body changes as being severe and threatening. Therefore, the women chose to wait or self-medicate before consulting others. The women who initially experienced the symptoms related to myocardial infarction as being severe and threatening, chose to consult others earlier than the majority of women.

CONCLUSION

Women's experiences and interpretation of body symptoms during myocardial infarction vary. Most commonly women do not initially recognise their body symptoms as being severe and life threatening. The theory of Merleau-Ponty's 'current and habituated body' is relevant for explaining women's ways of understanding and acting on their body changes during myocardial infarction.

RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

This review is relevant in a preventive and rehabilitating perspective for professionals working in health care. It helps professionals to understand women's experiences during myocardial infarction, optimises their ability to suspect myocardial infarction and teach women to react on these body changes.

Women's help-seeking behaviour during a first acute myocardial infarction

Studies indicate that the time from onset of symptoms to medical treatment has decreased in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, there are still variations indicating that women wait longer than men before making the decision to seek medical care. Multidimensional factors hindering and facilitating the decision have been identified in previous studies, though few have fully explored how social context affects women's expectations, interpretations and actions and so influences the decision-making process. The aim of this study was therefore to identify how women's experiences interacted and influenced the decision to seek medical care at their first AMI. Seventeen women, aged 38-75 years, were interviewed, at home or in the hospital, between June 2011 and May 2012. Grounded theory was used as a method, and data collection and analysis were carried out simultaneously. The results showed that before deciding to seek medical care, these women went through three defined but interrelated processes that together hindered their normal activities and made them act according to existential needs. The women's experiences of the progression of the disease, in terms of both symptoms and time, were very different, so they sought medical care at different times, sometimes life-threateningly late and sometimes before developing an AMI. Three mechanisms had to coincide if the women were to receive medical care. First, the women had to acknowledge their symptoms as something more than common bodily changes. Second, the healthcare system had to be accessible when the women made their decision to seek care. Third, the women must have come into contact with healthcare providers when the heart muscle had taken enough damage to measure.

Percutaneous aortic balloon valvotomy in the United States: a 13-year perspective

BACKGROUND

We determined the contemporary trends of percutaneous aortic balloon valvotomy and its outcomes using the nation's largest hospitalization database. There has been a resurgence in the use of percutaneous aortic balloon valvotomy in patients at high surgical risk because of the development of less-invasive endovascular therapies.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study with time trends using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database between the years 1998 and 2010. We identified patients using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification procedure code for valvotomy. Only patients aged more than 60 years with aortic stenosis were included. Primary outcome included in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included procedural complications and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

A total of 2127 percutaneous aortic balloon valvotomies (weighted n = 10,640) were analyzed. The use rate of percutaneous aortic balloon valvotomy increased by 158% from 12 percutaneous aortic balloon valvotomies per million elderly patients in 1998-1999 to 31 percutaneous aortic balloon valvotomies per million elderly patients in 2009-2010 in the United States (P < .001). The hospital mortality decreased by 23% from 11.5% in 1998-1999 to 8.8% in 2009-2010 (P < .001). Significant predictors of in-hospital mortality were the presence of increasing comorbidities (P = .03), unstable patient (P < .001), any complication (P < .001), and weekend admission (P = .008), whereas increasing operator volume was associated with significantly reduced mortality (P = .03). Patients who were admitted to hospitals with the highest procedure volume and the highest volume operators had a 51% reduced likelihood (P = .05) of in-hospital mortality when compared with those in hospitals with the lowest procedure volume and lowest volume operators.

CONCLUSION

This study comprehensively evaluates trends for percutaneous aortic balloon valvotomy in the United States and demonstrates the significance of operator and hospital volume on outcomes.

Factors associated with longer time to treatment for patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Rapid treatment of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is important; causes of delay in emergency medical services care of ACS are poorly understood.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed an analysis of data from IMMEDIATE (Immediate Myocardial Metabolic Enhancement during Initial Assessment and Treatment in Emergency Care), a randomized controlled trial of emergency medical services treatment of people with symptoms suggesting ACS, using hierarchical multiple regression of elapsed time. Out-of-hospital ECGs were performed on 54,230 adults calling 9-1-1; 871 had presumed ACS, 303 of whom had ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Women, participants with diabetes mellitus, and participants without previous cardiovascular disease waited longer to call 9-1-1 (by 28 minutes, P<0.01; 10 minutes, P=0.03; and 6 minutes, P=0.02, respectively), compared with their counterparts. Time from emergency medical services arrival to ECG was longer for women (1.5 minutes; P<0.01), older individuals (1.3 minutes; P<0.01), and those without a primary complaint of chest pain (3.5 minutes; P<0.01). On-scene times were longer for women (2 minutes; P<0.01) and older individuals (2 minutes; P<0.01). Older individuals and participants presenting on weekends and nights had longer door-to-balloon times (by 10, 14, and 11 minutes, respectively; P<0.01). Women and older individuals had longer total times (medical contact to balloon inflation: 16 minutes, P=0.01, and 9 minutes, P<0.01, respectively; symptom onset to balloon inflation: 31.5 minutes for women; P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

We found delays throughout ACS care, resulting in substantial differences in total times for women and older individuals. These delays may impact outcomes; a comprehensive approach to reduce delay is needed.

The chain of survival for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: insights into the Middle East

Although coronary heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Middle East (ME), not much is known about patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) from this region. The STEMI Chain of Survival can be used to target regional improvements in patient care. We tried to adopt a modified chain of survival for STEMI to highlight the challenges and difficulties and the possible solutions to improve the STEMI care in the Middle East based on the few data available.

Pulmonary embolism: the weekend effect

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary embolism is a common, often fatal condition that requires timely recognition and rapid institution of therapy. Previous studies have documented worse outcomes for weekend admissions for a variety of time-sensitive medical conditions. This phenomenon has not been clearly demonstrated for pulmonary embolism.

METHODS

We used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 2000 to 2008 to identify people with a principal discharge diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. We classified admissions as weekend if they occurred between midnight Friday and midnight Sunday. We compared all-cause in-hospital mortality between weekend and weekday admissions and investigated the timing of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement and thrombolytic infusion as potential explanations for differences in mortality.

RESULTS

Unadjusted mortality was higher for weekend admissions than weekday admissions (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.13-1.24). This increase in mortality remained statistically significant after controlling for potential confounding variables (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11-1.22). Among patients who received an IVC filter, a larger proportion of those admitted on a weekday than on the weekend received it on their first hospital day (38% vs 29%, P < .001). The timing of thrombolytic therapy did not differ between weekday and weekend admissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Weekend admissions for pulmonary embolism were associated with higher mortality than weekday admissions. Our finding that IVC filter placement occurred later in the hospital course for patients admitted on weekends with pulmonary embolism suggests differences in the timeliness of diagnosis and treatment between weekday and weekend admissions. Regardless of cause, physicians should be aware that weekend admissions for pulmonary embolism have a 20% increased risk of death and warrant closer attention than provided during the week.

Women's Experiences and Behaviour at Onset of Symptoms of ST Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Minimizing time from onset of symptoms to treatment (treatment delay) is crucial for patients with ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI), and one of the great challenges is to reduce the delay relating to the prehospital behaviour of the patient (patient delay). Studies indicate that women delay longer than men and insights into this area could lead to improved health education programmes aimed at reducing patient delay in women with STEMI.

Method: Open interviews with 14 women with STEMI were held during their hospital stay from June to September 2009. The interviews were aimed at exploring determinants of treatment delay, and were carried out and analysed within a phenomenological framework.

Findings: Three themes emerged important for the delay in seeking medical assistance: (1) Knowledge and ideas of AMI symptoms and risks. (2) Ambivalence whether to call for medical assistance or to cope with the situation. (3) Actions and strategies taken after onset of symptoms.

Conclusions: Three factors determined whether women showed appropriate behaviour for reduced patient delay after onset of symptoms: (1) identifying the symptoms as being of cardiac origin, (2) having a prepared action plan in case of an emergency situation, and (3) living with someone or contacting other persons.

Management of infections in type 2 diabetes from the patient's perspective: a qualitative approach

AIM

To explore the knowledge, and health beliefs of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) regarding management of infections of the urinary tract (UTIs) and lower respiratory tract (LRTIs).

METHODS

Three semi-structured focus groups with 23 patients with T2DM were conducted and analyzed.

RESULTS

Only a few patients mentioned specific preventive measures for UTIs and LRTIs, like not smoking and taking enough fluids (n=3). Making a nuisance of oneself, denying the seriousness of the disease and fear of insulin therapy were barriers to health-seeking behaviour. Some people did not complete the course of antibiotics (n=2) or forgot to take the tablets, especially when tablets had to be taken more than once a day (n=4).

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that patients with T2DM lack knowledge and realistic health beliefs about common infections such as UTIs and LRTIs. Health education should aim to help patients with T2DM to interpret symptoms of infections correctly in order to take the appropriate action such as taking preventive measures or taking antibiotics. Identifying patients at high risk of a complicated infection may target education towards those who need it most.

The impact of the intensity of fear on patient's delay regarding health care seeking behavior: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review focuses on the role of the intensity of fear in patient's delay in cancer and in myocardial infarction.

METHODS

In a search of literature published between 1990 and June 2009, 161 articles were found. After the use of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles in cancer and 4 articles in myocardial infarction remained.

RESULTS

High levels of fear are associated with earlier help-seeking in both diseases; for low levels of fear, the picture is unclear.

CONCLUSION

The level of fear is an important factor, which should be taken into account when facilitating help-seeking by patients.

Early identification and delay to treatment in myocardial infarction and stroke: differences and similarities

Background

The two major complications of atherosclerosis are acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute ischemic stroke. Both are life-threatening conditions characterised by the abrupt cessation of blood flow to respective organs, resulting in an infarction. Depending on the extent of the infarction, loss of organ function varies considerably.

In both conditions, it is possible to limit the extent of infarction with early intervention. In both conditions, minutes count.

This article aims to describe differences and similarities with regard to the way patients, bystanders and health care providers act in the acute phase of the two diseases with the emphasis on the pre-hospital phase.

Method

A literature search was performed on the PubMed, Embase (Ovid SP) and Cochrane Library databases.

Results

In both conditions, symptoms vary considerably. Patients appear to suspect AMI more frequently than stroke and, in the former, there is a gender gap (men suspect AMI more frequently than women).

With regard to detection of AMI and stroke at dispatch centre and in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) there is room for improvement in both conditions. The use of EMS appears to be higher in stroke but the overall delay to hospital admission is shorter in AMI. In both conditions, the fast track concept has been shown to influence the delay to treatment considerably.

In terms of diagnostic evaluation by the EMS, more supported instruments are available in AMI than in stroke. Knowledge of the importance of early treatment has been reported to influence delays in both AMI and stroke.

Conclusion

Both in AMI and stroke minutes count and therefore the fast track concept has been introduced. Time to treatment still appears to be longer in stroke than in AMI. In the future improvement in the early detection as well as further shortening to start of treatment will be in focus in both conditions. A collaboration between cardiologists and neurologists and also between pre-hospital and in-hospital care might be fruitful.

Sex and age specific time patterns and long term time trends of pre-hospital delay of patients presenting with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Prompt initiation of treatment after symptom onset of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a central goal in limiting myocardial damage because of the time-dependent nature of reperfusion therapies. We examined time patterns and long term time trends of pre-hospital delay time (PHDT) of STEMI patients.

METHODS

PHDT from 3093 STEMI patients derived from the Augsburg Myocardial Infarction Registry (1985-2004) surviving >24h after admission was obtained by a standardized bedside interview. Patients with in-hospital MI (n=140) and resuscitation (n=157) were excluded. Linear regression models were used to examine monthly median PHDT and individual PHDT over time.

RESULTS

Female sex was associated with longer PHDT (189 (98-542quartiles) min vs. 154 (85-497) min; p<0.0003). Median PHDT in the youngest male subgroup (25-54 years) was 128 (73-458) min and mounted to 205 (107-600) min in the oldest female subgroup (65-74 years). A minority of 12.4% of patients reached hospital within 1h of delay ranging from 8.7% (in oldest women) to 15.9% (in youngest men). The age-adjusted linear regression model for monthly PHDT revealed no significant change over 20-year time in both sexes. The corresponding average annual percentage change estimates were -0.45 (95% CI: -1.40 to 0.54) for men and -0.08 (95% CI: -1.80 to 1.67) for women. Emergency ambulance use increased over time, however transportation time remained stable.

CONCLUSIONS

PHDT in STEMI patients is constantly high over a 20-year observation period. Room for improvement especially in older women was evidenced. Preventive strategies with focused efforts on this subgroup are warranted.

Age and sex differences in duration of prehospital delay in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in American men and women. Although there have been dramatic changes in the management of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) over the past several decades, a considerable proportion of patients with AMI continue to delay seeking medical care in a timely manner. This review provides an overview of the published literature that has examined age and sex differences in extent of prehospital delay in patients hospitalized with AMI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A systematic review of the literature from 1960 to 2008, including publications that provided data on duration of prehospital delay in patients hospitalized with AMI, was conducted. A total of 44 articles (42 studies) were included in the present analysis. The majority of studies showed that in patients hospitalized with AMI, women and older persons were more likely to arrive at the hospital later than men and younger persons. Several factors associated with duration of prehospital delay, including sociodemographic, medical history, clinical, and contextual characteristics differed according to sex.

CONCLUSIONS

The elderly and women were more likely to exhibit longer delays in seeking medical care after the development of symptoms suggestive of AMI compared with other groups. Further research is needed to more fully understand the reasons for delay in these vulnerable groups.

Admission time and mortality rates

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine whether there there are any associations between time of admission and mortality rates in the pediatric intensive care unit.

METHODS

We analyzed retrospectively 210 consecutive admissions to the PICU from November 2005 to April 2006 for patients aged 1 mth to 18 yr.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference for overall mortality rates between weekend and weekday admissions (12.2% vs 17.4%, p=0.245), and daytime and evening admissions (11.3 % vs 15.4%, p=0.254). There was also no significant difference between different admission times for within 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours mortality rates.

CONCLUSIONS

In respect of the overall mortality rates, it can be said that in a closed system PICU management under the control of a pediatric intensivist there is no association between time of admission and mortality rates.

Response to Signs and Symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome: Differences Between Lebanese Men and Women

Background Signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndromes differ between men and women, but whether men and women respond differently to these indications is not well understood. Such responses influence health outcomes because success of treatment depends on how quickly healthcare is sought.

Objective To explore differences between Lebanese men and women in cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndromes.

Methods A convenience sample of 149 men and 63 women with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction were interviewed within 72 hours of admission to coronary care in a tertiary center by using the Response to Symptoms Questionnaire. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from medical records.

Results Women were older, less educated, and more often widowed than men. More women had hypertension but more men were current smokers. Women had shoulder pain, dyspnea, nausea and vomiting, and palpitations more often than men did. Women’s signs and symptoms were rated more severe by the women than men’s were by the men. Women were less likely to know signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction than were men and delayed coming to the hospital longer than men did. Delay correlated with the characteristics of the signs and symptoms and not realizing their importance in men and with dyspnea and taking the “wait and see” approach in women.

Conclusion Factors related to promptness in seeking care for acute coronary syndromes differ between Lebanese men and women.

High prevalence of lack of knowledge of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction in Pakistan and its contribution to delayed presentation to the hospital

Background

We conducted an observational study to determine the delay in presentation to hospital, and its associates among patients experiencing first Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods

A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (NICVD) in Karachi. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The primary outcome was delay in presentation, defined as a time interval of six or more hours from the onset of symptoms to presentation to hospital. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with prehospital delay.

Results

A total of 720 subjects were interviewed; 22% were females. The mean age (SD) of the subjects was 54 (± 12) years. The mean (SE) and median (IQR) time to presentation was 12.3 (1.7) hours and 3.04 (6.0) hours respectively. About 34% of the subjects presented late. Lack of knowledge of any of the symptoms of heart attack (odds ratio (95% CI)) (1.82 (1.10, 2.99)), and mild chest pain (10.05 (6.50, 15.54)) were independently associated with prehospital delay.

Conclusion

Over one-third of patients with AMI in Pakistan present late to the hospital. Lack of knowledge of symptoms of heart attack, and low severity of chest pain were the main predictors of prehospital delay. Strategies to reduce delayed presentation in this population must focus on education about symptoms of heart attack.

Reducing delay in seeking treatment by patients with acute coronary syndrome and stroke: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and Stroke Council

Patient delay in seeking treatment for acute coronary syndrome and stroke symptoms is the major factor limiting delivery of definitive treatment in these conditions. Despite decades of research and public education campaigns aimed at decreasing patient delay times, most patients still do not seek treatment in a timely manner. In this scientific statement, we summarize the evidence that (1) demonstrates the benefits of early treatment, (2) describes the extent of the problem of patient delay, (3) identifies the factors related to patient delay in seeking timely treatment, and (4) reveals the inadequacies of our current approaches to decreasing patient delay. Finally, we offer suggestions for clinical practice and future research.

Patients' and relatives' thoughts and actions during and after symptom presentation for an acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Relatives play an important role in deciding to seek medical care after the onset of symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to gain deeper understanding of how AMI patients and their relatives think and act during and after onset of symptoms.

METHODS

Six focus group interviews were conducted with AMI patients (N=13) and relatives (N=14). Manifest content analysis was used to analyse the transcribed data.

RESULTS

The AMI patients experienced a variety of symptoms and both patients and relatives often felt uncertain about the origin of the symptoms, interpreted them as less serious conditions and tried to alleviate the discomfort in various ways. When symptoms continued the patients consulted a relative, who often decided to seek care. Many considered waiting for an ambulance was too long and the relative often drove the patients to the hospital.

CONCLUSION

Patients as well as relatives were insecure about AMI symptoms and how to act. All patients contacted a relative, who was more eager than the patient to seek help. Many preferred to go in their own car to the hospital, believing it to be faster than an ambulance. Information about AMI symptoms and recommended action should be given to the public and to AMI patients and their relatives.

Reducing Delay in Seeking Treatment by Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Stroke

Patient delay in seeking treatment for acute coronary syndrome and stroke symptoms is the major factor limiting delivery of definitive treatment in these conditions. Despite decades of research and public education campaigns aimed at decreasing patient delay times, most patients still do not seek treatment in a timely manner. In this scientific statement, we summarize the evidence that (1) demonstrates the benefits of early treatment, (2) describes the extent of the problem of patient delay, (3) identifies the factors related to patient delay in seeking timely treatment, and (4) reveals the inadequacies of our current approaches to decreasing patient delay. Finally, we offer suggestions for clinical practice and future research.

Are predictors for myocardial infarction the same for women and men when evaluated prior to hospital admission?

AIM

To describe predictors of myocardial infarction prior to hospital admission in women and men among patients with a suspected acute coronary syndrome without ST-elevation.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study in Stockholm and Göteborg, Sweden.

RESULTS

Of 433 patients who did fulfill the inclusion criteria 45% were women. Fewer women (17%) than men (26%) developed acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (p=0.054), particularly among patients with initial ST-depression, in whom AMI was developed in 22% of women and 54% of men (p = 0.001). Predictors for infarct development in women were: a history of AMI and advanced age. Among men they were: initial ST-depression or a Q-wave on ECG and elevation of biochemical markers (both recorded on admission of the ambulance crew). There was a significant interaction between gender and the influence of ST-depression on the risk for development of myocardial infarction (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Among patients transported with ambulance due to a suspected acute coronary syndrome and no ST-elevation fewer women than men seem to develop AMI particularly among patients with ST-depression. These results suggest that early prediction of myocardial infarction might differ between women and men with acute chest pain.

Weekend and weeknight admissions have the same outcome of weekday admissions to an intensive care unit with onsite intensivist coverage

OBJECTIVE

Several reports have indicated increased mortality for weekend and nighttime admissions to the intensive care unit. This increase has been attributed to differences in staffing levels. The impact of onsite 24-hr/7-day intensivist staffing on weekend and weeknight outcomes has not been examined before. The objective of this study was to determine whether weekend and nighttime admissions compromise patient outcome in an intensive care unit staffed by an onsite intensivist 24 hrs a day and 7 days a week.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary care medical-surgical intensive care unit staffed 24 hrs/7 days by onsite consultant intensivists with predominantly North American Critical Care Board certifications.

PATIENTS

We included all emergency admissions over 4 yrs (March 1999 to February 2003) from a prospectively collected intensive care unit database. Admissions were grouped into weekday, weeknight, and weekend admissions.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Predicted mortality rates were calculated using Mortality Probability Models II0 and II24. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. Standardized mortality ratios were calculated. Secondary end points included intensive care unit mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit length of stay, and the need for renal replacement therapy, tracheostomy, and pulmonary artery catheter during the intensive care unit course. A total of 2,093 admissions were included in the study, of which 31% were admitted on weekdays, 35% on weeknights, and 34% on weekends. The three groups were similar in baseline characteristics. There was no significant difference in hospital mortality rates among the three time periods (36%, 36%, and 37%, respectively, p=.90). There were also no significant differences in any of the secondary end points.

CONCLUSIONS

In an intensive care unit staffed by onsite certified intensivists 24 hrs/7 days, we found no compromise in the care of patients admitted during weekends and weeknights. These findings suggest that such coverage helps in ensuring consistency of care and therefore represents a potentially improved model for intensive care unit practice.

Response to an optimistic viewpoint

We appreciate the interests in our work and observe that we agree that earlier thrombolysis for AMI can reduce the AMI case fatality. The question is how much and at what price. There are no data available to directly address this issue, and we developed a simulation model to quantify costs and health consequences of less thrombolytic delay by using public awareness campaigns, telemedicine, or a combination of the two. Inevitably, such a model needs to be based on several uncertain parameter values. We performed a range of sensitivity analyses so readers of the analysis could see the effect of replacing our base case values with others that the reader might consider more appropriate. Due to space restrictions, we had to omit a table with sensitivity analyses that would have addressed several of the concerns Terkelsen and coworkers have.

Age-related changes in treatment strategies for acute myocardial infarction: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES

To compare across four age groups (<65, 65-74, 75-84, > or =85) the determinants of coronary reperfusion therapy (CRT) use in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STE-AMI).

DESIGN

Population-based, observational study.

SETTING

Performed in the health district of Florence, Italy, where percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred CRT.

PARTICIPANTS

Nine hundred thirty patients with STE-AMI prospectively enrolled in the Florence AMI registry.

MEASUREMENTS

Use of CRT, clinical factors associated with CRT use.

RESULTS

CRT use was reduced from 71% at younger than 65 to 31% at aged 85 and older (P<.001). After adjusting for chronic comorbidity, Killip class, admission hospital category, hospitalization delay, and AMI location, CRT use was 29% (P=.17) lower at age 75 to 84 and 63% (P<.001) lower at age 85 and older than at younger than 65. Within each age group, the probability of receiving CRT was three to five times greater in patients directly admitted to the hospital with PCI facilities. Acute cardiac failure and chronic comorbidity were associated with lower CRT use only in patients aged 65 and older. Patients aged less than 85 years who received reperfusive therapy had a significantly lower risk of death (-44%, P=.045) at 1 year, whereas it was less evident and nonsignificant (-27%, P=.27) in patients aged 85 and older.

CONCLUSION

Results confirm that, although they might substantially benefit from CRT during STE-AMI, older patients are excluded from CRT even when eligible. This further indicates that clinicians are not yet completely prepared to manage most efficiently frail elderly with AMI, a task requiring a specific interdisciplinary training program in geriatric cardiology.

Factors related to delay times in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

The study's objective was to describe symptoms, symptom management, and patient delay times in patients seeking treatment for suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to find explanatory factors influencing the decision time.

METHOD

This is a descriptive survey study including 403 Swedish patients with a median age of 64 years with suspected AMI.

RESULTS

Altogether, 84% of the patients suspected that the symptoms emanated from the heart. Despite this fact, 59% delayed going to the hospital more than 1 hour after the onset of symptoms. In the multiple regression analysis, a "dull pain," the patients' belief that it was nothing serious, and contact with the general practitioner were associated with prolonged delay. The decision to contact the emergency service shortened the delay time.

CONCLUSIONS

The patient's subjective feeling of the severity of symptoms is an important predictor for delay times. There is still a need for public awareness of the appropriate responses to AMI symptoms, that is, to call for an ambulance instead of contacting the general practitioner.

Cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce the thrombolytic delay for acute myocardial infarction

Objectives:The objective of the study was to estimate the costs and health benefits of a public awareness campaign aimed at shortening the delay for thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to estimate the incremental costs and benefits of an additional telemedicine program.

Methods and Results:By using trial data on the impact of a Swedish campaign, a model was developed to simulate the current distribution of thrombolytic delay in Denmark and the delay after a campaign. The reduction in delay was translated into reduced fatality assuming reductions from the campaign and additional effects of a telemedicine program. The costs of the campaign were based on trial data and Danish unit costs while telemedicine costs were taken from a Danish demonstration program. The analyses indicate that the awareness campaign will translate into five fewer fatal AMIs (sixty-two life years gained) and a cost per life year of DKK283,300, with both costs and benefits discounted at 5 percent. When combining the public campaign with prehospital telemedicine diagnostics, the incremental cost per life year gained was DKK854.700.

Conclusions:Programs aimed at reducing delay of thrombolysis in patients with AMI are likely to have a limited impact on AMI fatality. Information campaigns may have acceptable cost-effectiveness ratios, while telemedicine programs lead to threefold greater ratios. Whether such programs can be considered cost-effective will depend on how life year gains are valued by society.

Prehospital delay in acute coronary syndrome—an analysis of the components of delay

BACKGROUND

Prompt hospital admission is essential when treating acute coronary syndrome. Delay prior to admission is unnecessarily long. Therefore, a thorough scrutiny of the influence of characteristics, circumstantial and subjective variables on elements of prehospital delay among patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome is warranted.

METHODS

A structured interview was conducted on 250 consecutive patients admitted alive with acute coronary syndrome.

RESULTS

Median prehospital, decision, physician and transportation delays were 107, 74, 25 and 22 min, respectively. Women (n=77) had more frequently atypical symptoms and increased prehospital delay caused by prolonged physician and transportation delay. Physician delay among women and men were 69 and 16 min, respectively. Patients with prior myocardial infarction had reduced prehospital delay, which was caused by shorter decision and physician delay; whereas patients with prior mechanical revascularisation or typical symptoms had prolonged prehospital delay due to long decision delay. When symptoms were interpreted as cardiac the decision and prehospital delay were reduced.

CONCLUSION

The medical profession underestimates the risk of acute coronary syndrome among women, and thereby contributes to unnecessary long delay to treatment. The patient's prior experience and interpretation has a significant influence on behaviour.

Womenʼs Delay in Seeking Treatment With Myocardial Infarction

Women, especially those older than 65 years, delay longer than do men before seeking medical treatment for symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The majority of delay time results from the patient's lengthy decision-making processes after symptoms begin and before seeking medical treatment. Effective treatment is time dependent as mortality and morbidity rise with each hour of delay. Therefore, the purpose of this research was 2-fold: (1) to synthesize reported research findings concerning women's reasons for delay in seeking treatment for symptoms of an AMI and (2) to identify areas for further research. Using Cooper's (Synthesizing Research. 3rd ed. London: Sage; 1998) framework for integrative review, this manuscript synthesized the literature from 48 reports published from 1995 to 2003 to describe the primary reason(s) for women's prehospital delay. Three categories emerged to explain why women delay in seeking treatment: (1) clinical, (2) sociodemographic, and (3) psychosocial factors. These factors are found to be multifaceted and complex. The most significant reasons for delay in seeking treatment for symptoms of AMI are the following: atypical presentation of symptoms, severity of presenting symptoms, presence of other chronic illnesses that confused acute symptoms, correct attribution or labeling of symptoms to the heart, perceived seriousness of the symptoms, beliefs of low self-perceived vulnerability to heart attack, and engagement in various other coping mechanisms. This synthesis identified and clarified the current state of science regarding women's prehospital delay in seeking treatment for symptoms of an AMI. Areas for future research are also discussed.

Hospital mortality associated with day and time of admission to intensive care units

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether hospital mortality of patients was associated with the day of the week or time of admission to intensive care units (ICUs).

DESIGN

Cohort study.

SETTING

One hundred two adult, general (mixed medical/surgical) ICUs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 56,250 admissions from 1995 to 2000 that fit the inclusion criteria for calculation of the APACHE II probability of hospital mortality.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Crude and case mix adjusted hospital mortality were examined by day of the week and time of day of admission to ICU. Patients admitted on Saturday and Sunday had higher crude hospital mortality compared with admissions on Wednesday [Saturday crude odds ratio (OR) 1.41, 95% CI 1.32-1.52; Sunday OR 1.56, 1.45-1.68]. The association was still significant after adjustment using the UK APACHE II model (Saturday OR 1.16, 1.1.07-1.26; Sunday OR 1.24, 1.14-1.35) but not after adjustment using individual components of the APACHE II model (Saturday OR 1.03, 0.95-1.12; Sunday OR 1.09, 1.00-1.19). Night admissions were also associated with higher mortality compared with day both before and after adjustment for case mix using the UK APACHE II model (crude OR 1.43, 1.37-1.51; adjusted OR 1.16, 1.10-1.23) but not after adjustment using components of the APACHE II model (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.96-1.09).

CONCLUSIONS

After appropriate adjustment for case mix, day of the week and time of day of admission of patients to ICU were not associated with significant differences in hospital mortality.

Patient delay from onset of chest pain suggesting acute coronary syndrome to hospital admission

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to examine patient delay (time from onset of chest pain to patient seeking medical care) among patients who were admitted to hospital with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

DESIGN AND RESULTS

For 337 patients acutely admitted to the Cardiology Department, Odense University Hospital, during a 3-month period in 1998 with suspected ACS, patient delay and the total pre-hospital delay were registered. In addition, information on patient characteristics, patient behaviour and symptom perception was obtained. The median patient delay was 2.85 h (range 0.2-91 h), of this the "silent" patient delay represented 1 h (range 1 min-11.3 h). The total pre-hospital delay was median 3.88 h. Thirty-one per cent of the patients had confirmed acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and this patient group had a significantly shorter patient delay compared with the group without AMI, 2.05 h vs 3.12 h, p = 0.01. Patient delay of more than 2 h was associated with the factors "self-medication" and "wanted to wait and see if the symptoms went away". A smaller than average risk of patient delay was found in the case of "suspicion of heart attack" and "suspicion of a serious condition".

CONCLUSION

Patient delay is considered to be a serious impediment to markedly improving the prognosis in the case of ACS.

Trends in incidence and case fatality rates of acute myocardial infarction in Denmark and Sweden

OBJECTIVE

To compare the incidence and case fatality of acute myocardial infarction in Denmark and Sweden.

DESIGN

A cohort study, linking the national registries of hospital admissions and causes of death in the two countries.

PATIENTS

All admissions and deaths with acute myocardial infarction as primary or secondary diagnosis were extracted (Denmark, 1978 to 1998; Sweden, 1987 to 1999).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The incidence was estimated using the first acute myocardial infarct for each patient. Case fatality was estimated in the first 28 days after acute myocardial infarction, including prehospital deaths. All rates were adjusted for age.

RESULTS

The incidence of myocardial infarction and the case fatality declined significantly among all subgroups of patients. Case fatality was higher in Denmark early in the study period (1987-1990) than in Sweden. The odds ratios (OR) ranged from 1.28 to 1.50 in the four age groups. In 1994-1999, the prognosis of patients younger than 75 years did not differ. Patients aged 75-94 years still fared worse in Denmark (OR 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 1.27). Women aged 30-54 years had a worse prognosis than men in both Denmark and Sweden (OR associated with male sex 0.85 and 0.90, respectively). In contrast, for patients older than 65 years, women had a better prognosis than men. This difference in the effect of sex with age was significant (p < 0.0001) and did not change over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Case fatality after acute myocardial infarction was notably higher in Denmark than in Sweden in 1987-1991, but in the later periods the prognosis was comparable in the two countries.

The advanced practice nurse's role regarding women's delay in seeking treatment with myocardial infarction

PURPOSE

To synthesize nursing literature on reasons women delay in seeking treatment for signs and symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), to hypothesize upon the primary reason(s) for this delay, and to propose advanced practice nurse (APN) interventions to reduce this delay.

DATA SOURCES

Utilizing Stetler's Model of Research Utilization, all reports published in nursing journals within the last 10 years specifically examining prehospital delay related to gender factors were analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

Women, especially those in advanced age, delay longer before seeking treatment for signs and symptoms of AMI. Effective treatment is time dependent; mortality and morbidity rise with increased prehospital delay. The reasons identified in the literature for this delay included severity, specificity, atypical presentation of symptoms, differences in event perception according to gender roles, and the interpretation and attribution of symptoms.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Identifying and teaching women at highest risk for delay, dispelling internal and external gender bias, increasing one's perception of patient vulnerability to AMI, and developing one's awareness of atypical presentations are the major factors that are likely to impact APN practice and consequently reduce prehospital delays for women at risk.

The epidemiology of out-of-hospital 'sudden' cardiac arrest

It is difficult to assemble data from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest since there is often lack of objective information. The true incidence of sudden cardiac death out-of-hospital is not known since far from all of these patients are attended by emergency medical services. The incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest increases with age and is more common among men. Among patients who die, the probability of having a fatal event outside hospital decreases with age; i. e. younger patients tend to more often die unexpectedly and outside hospital. Among the different initial arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation is the most common among patients with cardiac aetiology. The true distribution of initial arrhythmias is not known since several minutes most often elapse between collapse and rhythm assessment. Most patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have a cardiac aetiology. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests most frequently occur in the patient's home, but the prognosis is shown to be better when they occur in a public place. Witnessed arrest, ventricular fibrillation as initial arrhythmia and cardiopulmonary resuscitation are important predictors for immediate survival. In the long-term perspective, cardiac arrest in connection with acute myocardial infarction, high left ventricular ejection fraction, moderate age, absence of other heart failure signs and no history of myocardial infarction promotes better prognosis. Still there is much to learn about time trends, the influence of patient characteristics, comorbidity and hospital treatment among patients with prehospital cardiac arrest.

Restricted weekend service inappropriately delays discharge after acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Early discharge after myocardial infarction is safe and feasible. Factors that delay discharge need to be identified in order to improve care and reduce bed occupancy.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential of the restricted weekend service that operates in most hospitals to delay patient discharge.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING

2541 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to the coronary care unit of three local district hospitals over a 12 year period.

RESULTS

Clinical factors affecting the duration of stay were age, sex, and severity of infarction. Thus older patients and women stayed significantly longer, as did patients with enzymatically large infarcts. Day of week also had an important influence on duration of stay. Discharge occurred most often on a Friday (p = 0.006) and least often over the weekend (p = 0.0001). Patients were preferentially discharged on a Friday if the length of stay was more than 72 hours. Thus patients admitted on a Sunday or Monday were usually discharged the following Friday, corresponding to a median duration of stay of five or four days, respectively. For patients admitted on Tuesday to Saturday, weekend discharge was avoided and the median duration of stay was six to eight days.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with acute myocardial infarction, discharge decisions were influenced appropriately by clinical indicators of risk, but inappropriately by the day of the week. Thus weekend discharge was generally avoided, leading to variations in length of stay that were largely determined by the day of the week on which admission occurred rather than clinical need.

Mass media interventions to reduce help-seeking delay in people with symptoms of acute myocardial infarction: time for a new approach?

Minimizing patient delay in seeking care for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is important in the reduction of morbidity and mortality. However, mass media interventions to reduce these delays have had limited success. This paper critiques delay reducing intervention studies and draws on other public health campaigns to identify new directions. A Medline search for the years 1985 through 2000 yielded eight intervention studies meeting inclusion criteria. Three of eight studies reported successful interventions although two of three were only marginally successful. Most studies used similar messages. Campaign lengths, type of media, and sample sizes varied. High risk populations and those with confirmed MI responded more quickly. To reduce patient delay, media messages need to do more than create awareness. Future interventions should target high risk audiences, promote dialogue between previous AMI patients and high risk patients, address problems of denial, provide gender specific education, and emphasize symptom evaluation, problem solving, and decision-making skills.

Prognosis of acute myocardial infarction in the thrombolytic era: medical evaluation is still valuable

BACKGROUND

Modern and sophisticated technology for the management of myocardial infarction has progressively devalued medical evaluation.

HYPOTHESIS

This study was undertaken to assess the importance of the findings of medical evaluation at hospital presentation, in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS

Data from 590 thrombolytic-treated myocardial infarction patients were analyzed. The patients were grouped according to their clinical status on arrival at hospital. A modified Forrester classification--subset II was divided according to the absence (IIa) or presence (IIb) of symptoms--was applied. Short- (14 days) and long-term (up to 10 years) survival was analyzed and 19 independent variables were included in the multivariate models.

RESULTS

Short-term survival was 95.6% for subset I, 83.3% for subset IIa, 60% for subset IIb, 54.6% for subset III, and 34.8% for subset IV (P<0.001). By multiple regression analysis, lower clinical subsets (P<0.001), fewer coronary arteries with disease (P=0.006), younger age (P=0.014), absence of reinfarction (P=0.034), longer interval between streptokinase infusion and coronary arteriography (P=0.016), and higher left ventricular ejection fraction (P=0.037) demonstrated significant and independent correlation with short-term survival. Long-term survival for the total population was 71+/-3.6% for subset I, 54.4+/-8.5% for subset IIa, 20.8+/-9.4% for subset IIb, 54.5+/-15% for subset III, and 0% for subset IV (P<0.001). Using Cox regression analysis, lower clinical subsets (P<0.001), younger age (P<0.001), higher global left ventricular ejection fraction (P<0.001), and fewer coronary arteries with disease (P=0.021) correlated independently and significantly with long-term survival. When excluding data from patients who died before the short-term follow-up (n=532), lower clinical subsets remained an important predictor of long-term survival (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Clinical classification at hospital presentation is a powerful predictor of short- and long-term survival post-myocardial infarction.

Mortality among patients admitted to hospitals on weekends as compared with weekdays

BACKGROUND

The level of staffing in hospitals is often lower on weekends than on weekdays, despite a presumably consistent day-to-day burden of disease. It is uncertain whether in-hospital mortality rates among patients with serious conditions differ according to whether they are admitted on a weekend or on a weekday.

METHODS

We analyzed all acute care admissions from emergency departments in Ontario, Canada, between 1988 and 1997 (a total of 3,789,917 admissions). We compared in-hospital mortality among patients admitted on a weekend with that among patients admitted on a weekday for three prespecified diseases: ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (5454 admissions), acute epiglottitis (1139), and pulmonary embolism (11,686) and for three control diseases: myocardial infarction (160,220), intracerebral hemorrhage (10,987), and acute hip fracture (59,670), as well as for the 100 conditions that were the most common causes of death (accounting for 1,820,885 admissions).

RESULTS

Weekend admissions were associated with significantly higher in-hospital mortality rates than were weekday admissions among patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (42 percent vs. 36 percent, P<0.001), acute epiglottitis (1.7 percent vs. 0.3 percent, P=0.04), and pulmonary embolism (13 percent vs. 11 percent, P=0.009). The differences in mortality persisted for all three diagnoses after adjustment for age, sex, and coexisting disorders. There were no significant differences in mortality between weekday and weekend admissions for the three control diagnoses. Weekend admissions were also associated with significantly higher mortality rates for 23 of the 100 leading causes of death and were not associated with significantly lower mortality rates for any of these conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with some serious medical conditions are more likely to die in the hospital if they are admitted on a weekend than if they are admitted on a weekday.

[Characteristics of acute myocardial infarction patients treated with mechanical ventilation. Data from the ARIAM Registry]

INTRODUCTION

Scarce information is available about the use, clinical course and follow-up of patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with mechanical ventilation.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Historical cohort study of patients with acute myocardial infarction, included in Spanish registry ARIAM. Differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis from patients treated with or without mechanical ventilation were compared.

RESULTS

Three hundred and thirty-three of the 4143 patients (8.1%) with acute myocardial infarction were treated with mechanical ventilation. Treated patients were older, more frequently female, and had more frequently reinfarcts, anterior infarction, Killip III and IV, and higher creatine phosphokinase peak. Diabetes and high blood pressure were more frequent in those in which the technique was applied. They had a higher mortality at the coronary care unit (65.7 vs 5.1%; p < 0.001) than the non-ventilated patients. In multivariate analysis, creatine phosphokinase peak levels higher than 1.200 units/ml, Killip III and IV, and an infarction localization different to inferior were independent predictors of mechanical ventilation application. The 220 treated patients who died were older, more frequently female, had been more frequently admitted to the coronary unit, and had Killip IV whereas Killip III was more frequent among survivors. In multivariate analysis, restricted to patients treated with mechanical ventilation, Killip III was an independent predictor of survival with an odds ratio for mortality of 0.26 (CI 95%: 0.09-0.77).

CONCLUSIONS

Mechanical ventilation is a vital support technique employed in a significant number of complicated acute myocardial infarction patients. The high mortality of these patients was related to more extended myocardial infarction and a worse clinical state.

PITFALLS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

The accurate assessment and triage of patients with potential ACS is a complex decision-making process based on information that is not entirely reliable. The knowledgeable EP recognizes that assessment of patients with chest pain requires an understanding of the various clinical presentations of ACS and high-risk patient types, as well as careful use of the available modalities to diagnose these syndromes efficiently while incurring minimal risk to the patients safety. The busy EP is faced with sick patients with chest pain daily, so that it behoove anyone in emergency medicine to familiarize themselves with these diagnostic pitfalls.

Women's risk of decision delay in acute myocardial infarction: implications for research and practice

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Despite recent advances in treatment options for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), there has not been similar progress in decreasing the time between symptom onset and the decision to seek medical help (labeled "decision delay") and therefore availability of such treatments. Women delay longer than men before seeking help for symptoms of AMI, yet few studies have analyzed decision delay by gender. Factors studied to date do not adequately explain the differences in decision delay among women or between women and men with AMI. Additional research is needed to guide interventions to limit decision delay in women at risk for AMI. Until then, clinicians should use existing general guidelines to assist women at risk of AMI to avoid decision delay.