Faktorer som påverkar beslutet att söka sjukvård vid symtom på akut hjärtinfarkt

• It is important to receive medical treatment as soon as possible, to decrease morbidity and mortality, when an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occurs. The aim of the present study was to investigate factors, which influence the decision-making from symptom onset to hospital admission. One hundred and twenty-six patients with AMI were included. A structured questionnaire was used to register background data, knowledge of symptoms, the importance of fast decision-making, place according to symptoms onset, type of transportation to the hospital, clinical symptoms and ECG-changes. The proportion of elderly, women, patients with diabetes, those who lived alone and patients with symptom onset at home was higher in the group with more than four hours delay. Patients with knowledge of the importance of seeking medical care when experiencing symptoms of an AMI arrived earlier at hospital. Our main conclusion is that knowledge of the importance of fast seeking of medical care is crucial. More information to the public will increase the awareness of actions needed and hopefully it also will shorten the delay time.

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