Delays in Presentation by Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Objectives: To assess causes of delay for presentation with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at our institution. Methods: We included patients with a STEMI that were taken up for primary angioplasty, who had presented from Jan 2017 to December 2019 to the emergency department at Sultan Qaboos university hospital, Muscat. Results: 101 patients (Mean age 54.8+10.8 years; 80 (79.2%) male) were included. The median (IQR) pain to door time was 60 (30-120) minutes. 66 (66%) patients arrived within 90 minutes. All except one arrived by privately arranged transport. Feeling that the pain was not important (60%) or not cardiac (22%) were the main reasons for delay. Being diabetic was the only patient factor that predicted delay. Conclusion: A high proportion of patients presenting to our institution with a STEMI arrived within recommended times. However more public education is required to improve awareness about the importance of early evaluation of chest pain.
 Keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; prehospital delay