%0 Journal Article
%T Differences in symptoms, first medical contact and pre
%A Eva Swahn
%A Ingela Thyl¨¦n
%A Karin H £¿ngerud
%A Rose-Marie Isaksson
%A Sofia Sederholm Lawesson
%J European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care
%@ 2048-8734
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/2048872617741734
%X In ST-elevation myocardial infarction, time to reperfusion is crucial for the prognosis. Symptom presentation in myocardial infarction influences pre-hospital delay times but studies about differences in symptoms between patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction are sparse and inconclusive. The aim was to compare symptoms, first medical contact and pre-hospital delay times in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. This multicentre, observational study included 694 myocardial infarction patients from five hospitals. The patients filled in a questionnaire about their pre-hospital experiences within 24 h of hospital admittance. Chest pain was the most common symptom in ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (88.7 vs 87.0%, p=0.56). Patients with cold sweat (odds ratio 3.61, 95% confidence interval 2.29¨C5.70), jaw pain (odds ratio 2.41, 95% confidence interval 1.04¨C5.58), and nausea (odds ratio 1.70, 95% confidence interval 1.01¨C2.87) were more likely to present with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, whereas the opposite was true for symptoms that come and go (odds ratio 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.38-0.90) or anxiety (odds ratio 0.52, 95% confidence interval 0.29¨C0.92). Use of emergency medical services was higher among patients admitted with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The pre-hospital delay time from symptom onset to first medical contact was significantly longer in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (2:05 h vs 1:10 h, p=0.001). Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction differed from those with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction regarding symptom presentation, ambulance utilisation and pre-hospital delay times. This knowledge is important to be aware of for all healthcare personnel and the general public especially in order to recognise symptoms suggestive of ST-elevation myocardial infarction and when to decide if there is a need for an ambulance
%K Myocardial infarction
%K symptoms
%K care seeking
%K prehospital delay
%K ST-elevation myocardial infarction
%K non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction
%K first medical contact
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2048872617741734