Epidemiological Characteristics of Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients at Ogulin General Hospital over a Ten-Year Period

Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases remain one of the major public health challenges in Croatia, with coronary artery disease (CAD) as the most prevalent. The uneven development and concentration of healthcare facilities in urban areas suggest that rural regions lag in providing adequate healthcare. Methods: This quantitative, retrospective study included 732 patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who were treated between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2023 at Ogulin General Hospital, Croatia. Data were extracted from the hospital information system, and statistical analyses were performed, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: The analysis showed a decreasing trend in hospitalizations of patients with STEMI (Z = -3.574; p < 0.001) and an increase in hospitalizations of patients with NSTEMI (Z = 3.124; p = 0.002). No seasonal (χ² = 26.33; p = 0.238) or gender differences (χ² = 3.348; p = 0.188) were observed. A significant association between age and ACS occurrence was observed (χ² = 57.35; p < 0.001). The proportion of patients transferred to another health institution for further treatment was low (39.21%), particularly among patients with STEMI (12.89%). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate changes in the dynamics of ACS occurrence during the observed ten-year period. The number of hospitalizations is decreasing significantly, with a very low number of transfers of patients with STEMI; at the same time, there is an increase in hospitalizations of patients with NSTEMI. The study did not show statistically significant seasonal or gender differences in the incidence of ACS, while the incidence of NSTEMI increases with the age of the patients. These results emphasize the need for further improvement in the organization of healthcare for patients with ACS in the rural area served by Ogulin General Hospital.