Related Experiment Videos
Acute coronary syndrome--factors causing delayed presentation at the Emergency Department.
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
|June 14, 2002
Summary
Patients experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) often delay seeking emergency care, frequently waiting for symptoms to resolve. Addressing patient factors is crucial for timely emergency department (ED) presentation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patient presentation to the Emergency Department (ED) is often delayed.
- Identifying factors contributing to these delays is essential for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify patient-related factors contributing to delays in presentation for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at the Emergency Department (ED).
Main Methods:
- A structured questionnaire was administered to 302 patients presenting with ACS symptoms at five Singaporean hospitals.
- Data collected included demographics, risk factors, symptomatology, pain onset, patient response, and transport mode.
Main Results:
- A median delay of 2.1 hours occurred between worst chest pain and ED arrival.
- Patients with a history of diabetes mellitus showed longer delays.
- A significant portion of the delay was attributed to patients waiting for symptom resolution.
Conclusions:
- Patient characteristics significantly impact presentation delays for ACS.
- Future public health education campaigns should target these patient-specific factors to reduce delays.