Abstract 19118: Symptom Predictors of Delayed ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Presentation

Introduction: Through various systematic initiatives, cardiac centers routinely reach targeted door-to-balloon (DTB) treatment times of less than 90 minutes resulting in improved outcomes. However, in an effort to further optimize outcomes, by reducing total ischemic time, focus on symptom onset and their impact on presentation is needed. Hypothesis: This study aimed to identify whether the type and nature of specific symptoms are associated with delays in presentation in STEMI patients. Methods: 549 patients with complete data presenting with STEMI from April 2008 to December 2012 to a tertiary hospital were retrospectively studied. False activations were excluded. 449 patients were included in this analysis. Symptom-onset-to-hospital arrival time (symptom-onset time was identified by review of medical records, pre-hospital emergency services data and by interviewing patient’s and their family) was analyzed for the following factors: type of symptoms (chest pain, dyspnea, cardiac arrest) and nature of symptoms (constant or intermittent). Non-parametric univariate and multivariate analyses (PROC GLIMMIX) were carried out using Statistical Analysis Systems version 9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC) statistical software package. Results: See table Conclusion: As expected, STEMI patients presenting with cardiac arrest who survived pre-hospital resuscitation presented the fastest, while patients with dyspnea had a significantly longer delay than patients with chest pain. Patients with intermittent symptoms presented significantly later than those with constant symptoms. Of particular interest, symptom-onset-to-door presentation remains long even with the classical symptom of constant chest pain (the most common STEMI symptom presentation). Thus, continued and enhanced population education and awareness is necessary to see further significant decreases in total ischemic time in STEMI patients.