Pre-hospital delay and mortality in different age groups with acute coronary syndrome: do we have enough evidence?

Dávid Bauer1,2, Viktor Kočka1,2

  • 1Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Královské Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic.

Insights

Pre-hospital delay significantly impacts acute coronary syndrome (ACS) mortality across age groups. Reducing delay, especially for STEMI and NSTEMI patients, and leveraging AI can improve outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pre-hospital delay (p-HD) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) critically affects timely percutaneous coronary intervention.
  • The influence of patient age on p-HD and its correlation with mortality in different ACS subtypes remains incompletely understood.
  • Existing data on the relationship between p-HD, age, and mortality in ACS are inconsistent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current evidence on how p-HD impacts mortality across diverse age groups and ACS subtypes.
  • To identify specific patient subgroups within ACS where p-HD is a significant factor in mortality.
  • To highlight knowledge gaps and propose future research directions for optimizing pre-hospital care in ACS.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of existing literature on pre-hospital delay in acute coronary syndromes.
  • Analysis of data stratified by age groups and ACS subtypes (STEMI, NSTEMI).
  • Identification of factors contributing to p-HD and potential interventions.

Main Results:

  • Pre-hospital delay significantly impacts long-term prognosis in younger ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.
  • Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients with complex coronary lesions, often older, may benefit substantially from reduced p-HD.
  • Patients with ongoing myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) experience considerable p-HD regardless of age, suggesting a need for enhanced public awareness and medical vigilance.
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) integration in pre-hospital care presents a promising avenue for further p-HD reduction.

Conclusions:

  • Pre-hospital delay is a critical determinant of mortality in various acute coronary syndromes, with age-dependent variations.
  • Targeted interventions to reduce p-HD are crucial for improving outcomes in specific ACS populations, particularly younger STEMI and older NSTEMI patients.
  • Future strategies should focus on public education, increased medical vigilance, and the adoption of innovative technologies like AI to minimize pre-hospital delays in ACS management.
Abstract