Effective Factors on Delayed Onset of Treatment in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background and purpose: Treatment time is one of the main issues in myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the time to treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction in Zanjan hospitals. Materials and methods: A descriptive-correlational study was performed in 200 patients with myocardial infarction admitted to educational hospitals in Zanjan, Iran, 2016. Demographic data and time intervals between the pain onset and treatment were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS V16 applying t-test and linear regression model. Results: Median time between onset of pain and hospital arrival was 330.68±411.55 minutes and Door to Balloon Time or Door to Needle Time was 75.15±181.64 minutes. The time to treatment was found to have a significant association with residence in rural areas (P= 0.04), misinterpretation of symptoms (P= 0.01), inadequate income (P\textless0.001), and not using emergency medical service (P\textless0.001). According to linear regression, the main predictor of late arrival was insufficient income of patients (P\textless0.001). Conclusion: In this study, pre-hospital delay was seen more than in-hospital delay. Therefore, it would be valuable to inform individuals at highest risk for late arrival, particularly those \textgreater 60 years of age and living in villages. In fact, this would help such patients to receive appropriate treatments at a significantly shorter time. © 2018, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.