Title
Age and sex differences in duration of prehospital delay in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review.
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Clinical and Population Health Research Program
Publication Date
2010-01-01
Document Type
Article
Medical Subject Headings
Myocardial Infarction; Emergency Medical Services; Patient Admission; Healthcare Disparities; Age Factors; Sex Factors; Review
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in American men and women. Although there have been dramatic changes in the management of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) over the past several decades, a considerable proportion of patients with AMI continue to delay seeking medical care in a timely manner. This review provides an overview of the published literature that has examined age and sex differences in extent of prehospital delay in patients hospitalized with AMI.
METHODS AND RESULTS: A systematic review of the literature from 1960 to 2008, including publications that provided data on duration of prehospital delay in patients hospitalized with AMI, was conducted. A total of 44 articles (42 studies) were included in the present analysis. The majority of studies showed that in patients hospitalized with AMI, women and older persons were more likely to arrive at the hospital later than men and younger persons. Several factors associated with duration of prehospital delay, including sociodemographic, medical history, clinical, and contextual characteristics differed according to sex.
CONCLUSIONS: The elderly and women were more likely to exhibit longer delays in seeking medical care after the development of symptoms suggestive of AMI compared with other groups. Further research is needed to more fully understand the reasons for delay in these vulnerable groups.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2010 Jan 1;3(1):82-92. Epub 2009 Nov 24.
Related Resources
PubMed ID
20123674
Repository Citation
Nguyen, Hoa L.; Saczynski, Jane S.; Gore, Joel M.; and Goldberg, Robert J., "Age and sex differences in duration of prehospital delay in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review." (2010). Clinical & Population Health Research. 32.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsbs_cphr/32