Table 2 Characteristics of first time myocardial infarction patients according to total pre-hospital delay (n = 265)
Characteristic | <2 h | ≥2 h | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
n = 52 (19.6 %) | n = 213 (80.4 %) | ||
Mean age, years (SD) | 67.5 (11.3) | 68.2 (11.7) | 0.668 |
Female sex | 19/52 (36.5 %) | 70/213 (32.9 %) | 0.615 |
Married or cohabiting | 23/32 (71.9 %) | 106/172 (61.6 %) | 0.270 |
Distance to hospital in km, median (IQR) | 7.0 (27.5) | 49.8 (87.4) | <0.001 |
University or college degree | 7/51 (13.7 %) | 31/213 (14.6 %) | 0.880 |
Manual worker | 33/51 (66.0 %) | 132/212 (61.9 %) | 0.746 |
Medical history | |||
Previous revascularisation | 2/52 (3.8 %) | 7/213 (3.3 %) | 0.691 |
Previous stroke or TIA | 3/52 (5.8 %) | 10/213 (4.7 %) | 0.742 |
Angina pectoris, current diagnosis | 2/52 (3.8 %) | 20/213 (9.4 %) | 0.267 |
Hypertension, current diagnosis | 25/52 48.1 %) | 104/213 (48.8 %) | 0.923 |
Diabetes mellitus, medication for | 5/52 (9.6 %) | 46/213 (21.6 %) | 0.049 |
Dyslipidaemia, medication for | 6/52 (11.5 %) | 44/213 (20.7 %) | 0.132 |
Previous chest pain symptoms | |||
Ever have chest pain or discomfort in the chest | 21/52 (40.4 %) | 63/203 (31.0 %) | 0.201 |
Chest pain walking at an ordinary pace on the level | 3/51 (5.9 %) | 23/198 (11.6 %) | 0.232 |
Chest pain walking uphill or in a hurry | 14/51 (27.5 %) | 68/202 (33.7 %) | 0.397 |
On the day of admission to hospital | |||
Myocardial infarction suspected by patient | 23/52 (44.2 %) | 71/210 (33.8 %) | 0.161 |
“I decided by myself to seek medical care” | 23/49 (46.9 %) | 99/209 (47.47.4 %) | 0.957 |
“I took advice from a next of kin/friend” | 9/49 (18.4 %) | 50/209 (23.9 %) | 0.405 |
“A next of kin/friend contacted medical care” | 17/49 (34.7 %) | 60/209 (28.7 %) | 0.410 |
Expectations of medical care, mean (SD)a | 80.2 (15.0) | 76.2 (21.4) | 0.208 |
First medical contact before admission to hospital | |||
Personal visit to a GP before referral | 2/52 (3.8 %) | 56/208 (26.9 %) | <0.001 |
Referred by call to a primary care centre/Swedish Healthcare Direct | 10/52 (19.2 %) | 68/208 (32.7 %) | 0.058 |
Called the Emergency Medical Services | 27/52 (51.9 %) | 70/208 (33.7 %) | 0.015 |
Self-referred to hospital | 13/52 (25.0 %) | 14/208 (6.7 %) | <0.001 |
Ambulance transport to hospital | 36/52 (69.2 %) | 167/213 (78.4 %) | 0.161 |
Symptoms reported by patient at triage | |||
Predominantly chest pain | 48/52 (92.3 %) | 170/211 (80.6 %) | 0.044 |
Predominantly other pain | 3/52 (5.8 %) | 27/211 (12.8 %) | 0.153 |
Symptoms other than pain predominated | 1/52 (1.9 %) | 14/211 (6.6 %) | 0.189 |
Symptom onset related to physical strain | 10/52 (19.2 %) | 37/210 (17.6 %) | 0.786 |
Recurrent angina within 2 weeks before admission | 9/52 (17.3 %) | 69/213 (32.4 %) | 0.032 |
Pain intensity, mean (SD)b | 6.7 (2.7) | 5.5 (3.1) | 0.099 |