Factors Associated With Pre-hospital Delay in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: Treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is time related, so delay in treatment could affect prognosis. Recognizing pre-hospital or in-hospital delays in initiating treatment and reducing these factors is very efficacious in treatment of these patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is evaluate the causes of pre-hospital delay just as other studies on effect of different variables such as socioeconomic and personal factors on pre-hospital delay in with patients with AMI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out on 227 patients with acute myocardial infarction and demographic data, educational level, marital status, type of transfer to hospital and delay in arrival to hospital were recorded. RESULTS: 35.7% patients arrived during one hour of symptom onset, and 7.9% arrived after 24 hours. Patients having high level education (P = 0.0492) and with a family history of coronary artery disease (P = 0.01) had significantly less delay in arriving to hospital. Age, marital status, gender, and route of transfer to hospital were not related with pre-hospital delay (P > 0.05). Patients thought most common cause of delay in arrival was unawareness of coronary artery disease (38.8%) and self-medication (34.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing awareness of patients about cardiovascular symptoms and their risk factors could be helpful in patient's decision in seeking medical help. So general education via media and primary and middle schools could be helpful.