Physicians' Academy for Cardiovascular Education

Higher mortality among MI patients with atypical symptoms

Impact of myocardial infarction symptom presentation on emergency response and survival

Literature - Lykkemark Møller A, Mills EHA, Gnesin F et al. - Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. 2021 May 5;zuab023.doi: 10.1093/ehjacc/zuab023.

Introduction and methods

Acute MI can present with varying symptoms. Fast referral of suspected MI is important as time to hospital submission has an impact on chance of survival [1-3]. There is not much known about how the type of initial symptom presentation of MI affects the referral and survival rates in people that call the emergency number or non-emergency medical helpline. This study investigated the association between initial symptoms in patients later diagnosed with MI, and the likelihood of admission to the emergency department and 30-day mortality.

This study was conducted in Copenhagen, Denmark. People with health issues can call a 24-h non-emergency medical helpline and an emergency number. Both services are tax-funded and are free of charge. All calls to the non-emergency medical helpline and the emergency number by people aged ≥30 between 1st January 2014 and 31st December 2018 were analyzed. Out of a total of 1 184 359 calls, 8336 calls for 7778 patients with an MI diagnosis at the hospital or MI as cause of death ≤72h after the call were included in this analysis. At both medical services, the primary symptom reported in the call was registered. Registered symptoms used in this analysis included chest pain, atypical symptoms and unconsciousness. The two main outcomes of this study were: The emergency response (i.e. immediate action following calls), and 30-day mortality. The emergency response was divided into 4 categories: 1) No referral for treatment (including watchful waiting or referral to a general practitioner); 2) self-transport to hospital, non-emergency patient transport, and home visits; 3) Non-urgent dispatch of non-emergency ambulances; and 4) Emergency dispatch of emergency ambulances with lights and sirens. In addition, in-hospital procedures (including coronary angiography (CAG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)) up to 7 days after the call, time between hospital arrival and registration at cardiology ward, differential diagnosis of MI (STEMI, NSTEMI, and unknown), and troponin values measured up to 72h were analyzed.

Main results

Conclusion

Among MI patients calling for help at the emergency number or non-emergency medical helpline, 72% presented with chest pain and 24% presented with atypical symptoms. Breathing problems was the most common atypical symptom. MI patients with atypical symptoms had a lower chance of receiving an emergency dispatch, and higher 30-day mortality compared to MI patients with chest pain.

References

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Find this article online at Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care.

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