Gender Differences in Factors Related to Prehospital Delay in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

• Published in: Yonsei medical journal Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. 710 - 719
• Main Authors: Kim, Hee-Sook, Lee, Kun-Sei, Eun, Sang Jun, Choi, Si-Wan, Kim, Dae Hyeok, Park, Tae-Ho, Yun, Kyeong Ho, Yang, Dong Heon, Hwang, Seok Jae, Park, Ki-Soo, Kim, Rock Bum
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Yonsei University College of Medicine 01.07.2017; 연세대학교의과대학
• Subjects: Aged; Demography; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Original; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Sex Characteristics; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Time Factors; 의학일반; Acute coronary syndrome; healthcare timeout; sex differences
• ISSN: 0513-5796; 1976-2437; 1976-2437
• DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2017.58.4.710

The aim of our study was to investigate gender differences in factors related to prehospital delay and identify whether the knowledge of acute myocardial infarction symptoms affects this delay in Korean patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). A total of 350 patients (286 men, 64 women) with confirmed STEMI were interviewed to investigate socio-demographics, history of disease, symptom onset time, and factors that contributed to delayed decision time in seeking treatment and hospital arrival time from symptom onset. Factors associated with prehospital delay were examined separately by gender using univariate and multivariate analyses. Female patients had higher proportions of ≥60-minute decision time and ≥120-minute arrival time compared to male patients (33.9% vs. 23.1%, 60.9% vs. 52.1%, respectively). However, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.093 and 0.214, respectively). Previous cardiovascular disease (CVD) was associated with increased decision time in men, whereas, in women, lower educational status caused a greater delay in decision time. Factors associated with hospital arrival time excluding delayed decision time were referral from another hospital, previous CVD, and percutaneous coronary intervention in men, and referral from another hospital in women. Gender differences exist in factors related to prehospital delay. Therefore, public education to reduce prehospital delay should be conducted according to gender with a focus on the pertinent factors.