[Delay in caring for patients with precordial pain]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Emergency Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Understanding patient arrival times is crucial for optimizing emergency care.
• Previous myocardial infarction may influence patient response and healthcare seeking behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the time of arrival at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for patients with previous myocardial infarction versus those experiencing their first infarction.
• To identify factors influencing ICU arrival times in myocardial infarction patients.

Main Methods:

• A transversal retrospective study was conducted.
• Data from 622 patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction between 1984-1990 at the General Hospital of Elche were analyzed.
• Patient demographics, initial and maximum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, Killip classification, and time from symptom onset to ICU arrival were recorded.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in the time elapsed from symptom onset to ICU arrival between patients with previous infarction and those with a first infarction.
• Patients with a previous infarction exhibited significantly lower initial CPK levels upon emergency ward admission (p = 0.023).

Conclusions:

• Patients with prior myocardial infarction appear to seek medical attention earlier, as suggested by lower initial CPK levels.
• Despite earlier presentation, the time to ICU arrival did not differ significantly, indicating potential delays in hospital protocols or treatment initiation.
• No specific factors were identified as significantly associated with the time to ICU arrival.