Demographic, belief, and situational factors influencing the decision to utilize emergency medical services among chest pain patients. Rapid Early Action for Coronary Treatment (REACT) study

Prevalence and Predictors of Emergency Medical Service Use in Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

AIM

We aim to describe prevalence of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) use, investigate factors predictive of EMS use, and determine if EMS use predicts treatment delay and mortality in our ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) cohort.

METHOD

We prospectively collected data on 5,602 patients presenting with STEMI for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) transported to PCI-capable hospitals in Victoria, Australia, from 2013-2018 who were entered into the Victorian Cardiac Outcomes Registry (VCOR). We linked this dataset to the Ambulance Victoria and National Death Index (NDI) datasets. We excluded late presentation, thrombolysed, and in-hospital STEMI, as well as patients presenting with cardiogenic shock and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

RESULTS

In total, 74% of patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI used EMS. Older age, female gender, higher socioeconomic status, and a history of prior ischaemic heart disease were independent predictors of using EMS. EMS use was associated with shorter adjusted door-to-balloon (53 vs 72 minutes, p<0.001) and symptom-to-balloon (183 vs 212 minutes, p<0.001) times. Mode of transport was not predictive of 30-day or 12-month mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

EMS use in Victoria is relatively high compared with internationally reported data. EMS use reduces treatment delay. Predictors of EMS use in our cohort are consistent with those prevalent in prior literature. Understanding the patients who are less likely to use EMS might inform more targeted education campaigns in the future.

Barriers associated with emergency medical service activation in patients with ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes

Many ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (STEACS) patients fail to activate the Emergency Medical System (EMS), with possible dramatic consequences. Prior studies focusing on barriers to EMS activation included patients with any acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without representation of southern European populations. We aimed to investigate the barriers to EMS call for patients diagnosed for STEACS in Italy. A prospective, single-center, survey administered to all patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention for STEACS in a tertiary hospital in northern Italy from 01/06/2018 to 31/05/2020. The questionnaire was filled out by 293 patients. Of these, 191 (65.2%) activated the EMS after symptoms onset. The main reasons for failing to contact EMS were the perception that the symptoms were unrelated to an important health problem (45.5%) and that a private vehicle is faster than EMS to reach the hospital (34.7%). Patients who called a private doctor after symptoms onset did not call EMS more frequently than those who did not and 30% of the patients who did not call the EMS would still act in the same way if a new episode occurred. Previous history of cardiovascular disease was the only predictor of EMS call. Information campaigns are urgently needed to increase EMS activation in case of suspected STEACS and should be primary focused on patients without cardiovascular history, on the misperception that a private vehicle is faster than EMS activation, and on the fact that cardiac arrest occurs early and may be prevented by EMS activation.

Factors affecting STEMI performance in six hospitals within one healthcare system

BACKGROUND

How quickly percutaneous coronary intervention is performed in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a quality measure, reported as door-to-balloon (D2B) time.

OBJECTIVES

To explore factors affecting STEMI performance in six hospitals in one healthcare system.

METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review of clinical features and D2B times. Predictors for D2B times were identified using multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS

The median D2B time for all six hospitals was 63 minutes and all hospitals surpassed the minimal recommended percentage of patients achieving D2B time ≤90 minutes (87.8%vs75%,p<0.001). Patient confounders adversely affect D2B times (+21.5 minutes, p<0.001). Field ECG/activation with emergency department (ED) transport (-22.0 minutes) or direct cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) transport (-27.3 minutes) was superior to ED ECG/activation (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Field ECG/STEMI activation significantly shortened D2B time. To improve D2B time, hospital and Emergency Medical Service collaboration should be advocated to increase field activation and direct patient transportation to CCL.

Call to Action: Rural Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association

Understanding and addressing the unique health needs of people residing in rural America is critical to the American Heart Association's pursuit of a world with longer, healthier lives. Improving the health of rural populations is consistent with the American Heart Association's commitment to health equity and its focus on social determinants of health to reduce and ideally to eliminate health disparities. This presidential advisory serves as a call to action for the American Heart Association and other stakeholders to make rural populations a priority in programming, research, and policy. This advisory first summarizes existing data on rural populations, communities, and health outcomes; explores 3 major groups of factors underlying urban-rural disparities in health outcomes, including individual factors, social determinants of health, and health delivery system factors; and then proposes a set of solutions spanning health system innovation, policy, and research aimed at improving rural health.

The AngelMed Guardian® System in the Detection of Coronary Artery Occlusion: Current Perspectives

Total ischemic time, which specifies the time from the onset of chest pain to initiation of reperfusion during percutaneous coronary intervention, consists of two intervals: symptom to door time and door to balloon time. A door to balloon time of 90 mins or less has become a quality-of-care metric in the management of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). While national efforts made by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) have curtailed in-hospital door to balloon time over the years, a reduction in pre-hospital symptoms to door time presents a challenge in modern interventional Cardiology. Early and complete revascularization has been associated with improved clinical outcomes in MI and strategies that may help reduce symptom to door time, and thus the total ischemic time, are crucial. Rapidly evolving ST-segment changes commonly develop prior to ischemia-related symptom onset, and are detectable even in patients with clinically unrecognized silent MIs. Therefore, a highly intelligent ischemia detection system that alerts patients of ST segment deviation may allow for rapid identification of acute coronary occlusion. The AngelMed Guardian^® System is a cardiac activity monitoring and alerting system designed for rapid identification of intracardiac ST-segment changes among patients at a high risk for recurrent ACS events. This article reviews the clinical studies evaluating the design, safety and efficacy of the AngelMed Guardian System and discusses the clinical implications of the device.

Pre-hospital delay and emergency medical services in acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Minimising total ischemic time (TIT) is important for improving clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). TIT has not shown a significant improvement due to persistent pre-hospital delay. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with pre-hospital delay.

METHODS

Individuals enrolled in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institutes of Health between 2011 and 2015 were included in this study. The study population was analyzed according to the symptom-to-door time (STDT; within 60 or > 60 minutes), and according to the type of hospital visit (emergency medical services [EMS], non-PCI center, or PCI center).

RESULTS

A total of 4,874 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 28.4% arrived at the hospital within 60 minutes of symptom-onset. Old age (> 65 years), female gender, and renewed ischemia were independent predictors of delayed STDT. Utilising EMS was the only factor shown to reduce STDT within 60 minutes, even when cardiogenic shock was evident. The overall frequency of EMS utilisation was low (21.7%). Female gender was associated with not utilising EMS, whereas cardiogenic shock, previous myocardial infarction, familial history of ischemic heart disease, and off-hour visits were associated with utilising EMS.

CONCLUSION

Factors associated with delayed STDT and not utilising EMS could be targets for preventive intervention to improve STDT and TIT.

Temporal Trends and Future Predictions of Regional EMS System Utilization Using Statistical Modeling

Introduction:

Trends in utilization of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems can be used to extrapolate future use of an EMS system, which will be valuable for the budgeting and planning of finances and resources. The best model for incorporation of seasonal and regional fluctuations in utilization to predict future utilization is unknown.

Problem:

Authors aimed to trend patterns of utilization in a regional EMS system to identify the needs of a growing population and to allow for a better understanding of how the EMS system is used on a basis of call volume and frequency of EMS transportation. The authors then used a best-fitting prediction model approach to show how the studied EMS system will be used in future years.

Methods:

Systems data were retrospectively extracted by using the electronic medical records of the studied EMS system and its computer-assisted dispatch (CAD) database from 2010 through 2017. All EMS dispatches entering the system’s 9-1-1 public service access point were captured. Annual utilization data were available from 2010 through 2017, while quarterly data were available only from 2013 through 2017. The 9-1-1 utilization per capita, Advanced Life Support (ALS) utilization per capita, and ALS cancel rates were calculated and trended over the study period. The methods of prediction were assessed through a best-fitting model approach, which statistically suggested that Additive Winter’s approach (SAS) was the best fit to determine future utilization and ALS cancel rates.

Results:

Total 9-1-1 call volume per capita increased by 32.46% between 2010 and 2017, with an average quarterly increase of 0.78% between 2013 and 2017. Total ALS call volume per capita increased by 1.93% between 2010 and 2017. Percent ALS cancellations (cancelled en route to scene) increased by eight percent between 2010 and 2017, with an average quarterly increase of 0.42% (2013–2017). Predictions to end of 2019 using Additive Winter’s approach demonstrated increasing trends in 9-1-1 call volume per capita (R2 = 0.47), increasing trends of ALS utilization per capita (R2 = 0.71), and increasing percent ALS cancellation (R2 = 0.93). Each prediction showed increasing future trends with a 95% confidence interval.

Conclusions:

The authors demonstrate paramount per capita increases of 9-1-1 call volume in the studied ALS system. There are concomitant increases of ALS cancellations prior to arrival, which suggests a potential burden on this regional ALS response system.

Increasing Nursing Knowledge of ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction Recognition on 12-Lead Electrocardiograms to Improve Patient Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Early identification of ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) on electrocardiograms (ECGs) is vital to patient outcomes. Therefore, nurses need to have the knowledge to quickly recognize this lethal dysrhythmia.

METHOD

The purpose of this pretest-posttest study was to increase nursing's knowledge on accurate and timely identification of an STEMI using an online educational intervention delivered via social media.

RESULTS

This study included a convenience sample of 31 RNs employed in an urban hospital in the Midwest. The mean score on the pretest was 7.53 of 10 (p = .028), which improved to 9.11 of 10 (t = 6.273; p = .000) on the posttest.

CONCLUSION

The use of social media to reach adult learners may be an effective means of delivering continuing education. Additional work is needed to further explore the use of educating bedside nurses on the importance of using the 12-lead ECG as a screening tool. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2019;50(10):475-480.].

Association Between System Factors and Acute Myocardial Infarction Mortality

OBJECTIVES

We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the association between healthcare system factors and death from acute myocardial infarction (AMI), in terms of access (distance to the hospital, mode of transportation), availability (emergency medical services, hospitals), and capability (emergency medical services' 12-lead electrocardiogram capability, continuous percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] and cardiothoracic surgical services), after accounting for individual and environmental factors.

METHODS

Data on 14,663 deaths (in-hospital and out of hospital) and live hospital discharges as a result of AMI for 2012 and 2013 among Arkansas residents were obtained from the Arkansas Department of Health. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to account for nesting, in which an individual was nested within either a county or a hospital to evaluate the association of system factors with death from AMI.

RESULTS

Deaths from AMI were significantly associated with two system factors: a 9.2% increase in the odds of deaths from AMI for every 10-mi increase in distance to the nearest hospital (odds ratio 1.092, 95% confidence interval 1.009-1.181) and a 64% increase in the odds of death from AMI among hospitals without continuous PCI capability (odds ratio 1.64, 95% confidence interval 1.15-2.34), after adjusting for individual and environmental factors.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher risk of AMI deaths was associated with healthcare system factors, especially distance to nearest hospital, and hospitals' continuous PCI capability, even after adjusting for individual and environmental factors. A coordinated system of care approaches that mitigates gaps in these system factors may prevent death from AMI.

The association between ethnicity and delay in seeking medical care for chest pain: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and chest pain is one of the most common symptoms of ACSs. A rapid response to chest pain by patients and appropriate management by health professionals are vital to improve survival rates.People from different ethnic groups are likely to have different perceptions of chest pain, its severity and the need for urgent treatment. These differences in perception may contribute to differences in response to chests pain and precipitate unique coping strategies. Delay in seeking medical care for chest pain in the general population has been well documented; however, limited studies have focused on delay times within ethnic groups. There is little research to date as to whether ethnicity is associated with the time taken to seek medical care for chest pain. Consequently, addressing this gap in knowledge will play a crucial role in improving the health outcomes of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients suffering from chest pain and for developing appropriate clinical practice and public awareness for these populations.

OBJECTIVES

The current review aimed to determine if there is an association between ethnicity and delay in seeking medical care for chest pain among CALD populations.

INCLUSION CRITERIA TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS

Patients from different ethnic minority groups presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with chest pain.

TYPES OF EXPOSURE

The current review will examine studies that evaluate the association between ethnicity and delay in seeking medical care for chest pain among CALD populations.

TYPES OF STUDIES

The current review will consider quantitative studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, quasi-experimental, before and after studies, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies and analytical cross-sectional studies.

OUTCOMES

The current review will consider studies that measure delay time as the main outcome. The time will be measured as the interval between the time of symptom onset and time to reach an ED.

SEARCH STRATEGY

A comprehensive search was undertaken for relevant published and unpublished studies written in English with no date restriction. All searches were conducted in October 2014. We searched the following databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, ProQuest (health databases only), Informit, Sociological Abstracts, Scopus and Web of Science. The search for unpublished studies included a wide range of 'gray literature' sources including national libraries, digital theses repositories and clinical trial registries. We also targeted specific health research, specialist cardiac, migrant health, and emergency medicine organizational websites and/or conferences. We also checked the reference lists of included studies and contacted authors when further details about reported data was required to make a decision about eligibility.

METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY

Papers selected for retrieval were assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological validity prior to being included in the review. Validity was assessed using standardized critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Adjudication was produced by the third reviewer.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted from included articles by two independent reviewers using the standardized data extraction tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The extracted data were synthesized into a narrative summary. Meta-analysis could not be performed due to the heterogeneity of study protocols and methods used to measure outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 10 studies, with a total of 1,511,382 participants, investigating the association between ethnicity and delay met the inclusion criteria. Delay times varied across ethnic groups, including Black, Hispanic, Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Chinese. Seven studies reported delay in hours and ranged from 1.90 to 3.10 h. Delay times were longer among CALD populations than the majority population. The other three studies reported delay time in categories of time (e.g. <1, <4 and <6 h) and found larger proportions of later presentations to the EDs among ethnic groups compared with the majority groups.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence of an association between ethnicity and time taken in seeking medical care for chest pain, with patients from some ethnic minorities (e.g. Black, Asian, Hispanic and South Asian) taking longer than those of the majority population. Health promotions and health campaigns focusing on these populations are indicated.

Ambulance use, distance and outcomes in patients with suspected cardiovascular disease: a registry-based geographic information system study

BACKGROUND

Despite guideline recommendations, the majority of patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome do not use emergency medical services to reach the emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with EMS utilisation and subsequent patient outcomes.

METHODS

Using administrative data, all patients who presented to an ED in the metropolitan areas of Edmonton and Calgary in the years of 2007-2013 with main ED diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, stable angina or chest pain were included. The travel distance was estimated using the geographic information system method to approximate the distance between the ED and patient home. The clinical endpoints were the 7-day and 30-day all-cause events (death, re-hospitalisation and repeat ED visit).

RESULTS

Of 50,881 patients, 30.5% presented by emergency medical services. Patients with older age, female sex, ED diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, more comorbidities and lower household income were more likely to use emergency medical services to reach the hospital. Longer travel distance was associated with higher emergency medical services use (odds ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.10), but it was not a predictor of clinical events. After adjustment for covariates and inverse propensity score weighting, emergency medical services use was associated with a higher risk of 7-day and 30-day clinical events.

CONCLUSION

Several demographic and clinical features were associated with higher emergency medical services use including geographical variation. Although longer travel distance was shown to be linked to higher emergency medical services use, it was not an independent predictor of patient outcome. This has implications for the design of emergency medical services systems, triage and early diagnosis and treatment options.

Usage of ambulance transport and influencing factors in acute coronary syndrome: a cross-sectional study at a tertiary centre in China

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore the choice of transportation mode to hospital in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to determine the factors influencing the use of ambulance.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary and teaching hospital in China. The study was carried out between 24 August 2015 and 24 July 2016. A total of 828 patients with ACS presented at the emergency department (ED) were included. The study population was dichotomised according to their primary mode of transport (ambulance or self-transport) to hospital. Social demographics, cardiovascular history, risk factors, prehospital medications, clinical characteristics and symptom characteristics were collected. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with ambulance use.

RESULTS

We found that only 179 (21.6%) patients with ACS chose taking ambulance to hospital. Factors associated with ambulance use were single (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.57), taking Suxiaojiuxin pills (OR 1.91, 1.31 to 2.80) or nitrates (OR 2.91, 1.70 to 4.99) before going to hospital, diagnosed as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (OR 2.43, 1.45 to 4.05), with persistent symptoms (OR 1.95, 1.33 to 2.86) and symptoms accompanied with vomiting (OR 2.35, 1.19 to 4.62). The patients who had symptoms precipitated or aggravated by exercise (OR 0.37, 0.14 to 0.98) tended to choose self-transport.

CONCLUSION

The usage of ambulance in patients with ACS presenting to the ED was low in China. Factors like single, taking Suxiaojiuxin pills or nitrates before going to hospital, diagnosed as STEMI, accompanied with vomiting and persistent symptoms were independently associated with ambulance use. Future education programmes should focus on these factors and increase people's knowledge on ACS and the benefits of ambulance use.

Factors Associated With Emergency Services Use by Patients With Recurrent Myocardial Infarction: From the Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease/Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg Myocardial Infarction Registry

BACKGROUND

Although emergency medical services (EMS) use is the recommended mode of transport in case of acute coronary symptoms, many people fail to use this service.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with EMS use in a population-based sample of German patients with recurrent acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS

The sample consisted of 998 persons with a first and recurrent AMI, recruited from 1985 to 2011. Logistic regression modeling adjusted for sociodemographic, situational, and clinical variables, previous diseases, and presenting AMI symptoms was applied.

RESULTS

Emergency medical services was used by 48.8% of the patients at first, and 62.6% at recurrent AMI. In first AMI, higher age, history of hyperlipidemia, ST-segment elevation AMI, more than 4 presenting symptoms, symptom onset in daytime, and later year of AMI were significantly related with EMS use. Pain in the upper abdomen and pain between the shoulder blades were significantly less common in EMS users. In recurrent AMI, EMS use at first AMI, presence of any other symptom except chest pain, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and later year of AMI were significantly related with EMS use. Significant predictors of EMS use in recurrent AMI in patients who failed to use EMS at first AMI were unmarried, experience of any symptom except chest symptoms at reinfarction, bundle branch block (first AMI), any in-hospital complication (first AMI), longer duration between first and recurrent AMI, and later year of reinfarction.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with AMI and their significant others may profit by education about the benefits of EMS use.

Delay in Seeking Health Care for Acute Coronary Syndromes in a Lebanese Sample

Early treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine delay in seeking care for ACS symptoms in a Lebanese sample and identify predictors of delay. Medical record reviews and interviews using the Response to Symptoms Questionnaire were conducted with 204 ACS patients in coronary care within 72 hours of admission. Median time from symptom onset to hospital arrival was 4.5 hours. Higher education, presence of dyspnea, intermittent symptoms, and waiting for symptoms to go away predicted longer delays, whereas intensity of symptoms and active response (going to the hospital) predicted shorter delays. The findings suggest lack of knowledge of ACS symptoms and the need for public education in this regard.

Evaluation of a Public Education Program Delivered by Firefighters on Early Recognition of a Heart Attack

The Heart Attack Survival Kit (HASK) project is a prospective, randomized trial, testing the effectiveness of an intervention delivered door-to-door by firefighters to increase use of 911 and ingestion of aspirin for symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among seniors in King County, Washington. Firefighters visited 24,582seniors in King County, Washington and delivered a Heart Attack Survival Kit. Another 24,191 senior households served as the control group. Outcomes of the program were measured by tracking 911 calls as well as survey data. This study reports on the results of the telephone survey with a random sample of seniors (N = 323) to assess their knowledge of and intentions to act during a heart emergency. Results of a logistic regression analysis showed that being female, be ing younger, and remembering the kit was significantly related to intentions to act appropriately to AMI symptoms. The results are discussed in terms of public education around AMI.

Pain modulation efficiency delays seeking medical help in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Rapid reperfusion is crucial to reduce mortality in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction. Prehospital patient delay, defined as time from symptoms onset to the decision to seek medical attention, accounts for a large proportion of cases with delayed reperfusion. However, whether pain modulation processes are involved in this phenomenon is not known. We hypothesized that prehospital patient delay may be affected by a reduction of perceived pain perception and pain modulation pattern. Pain threshold, magnitude estimation of suprathreshold stimulation, mechanical temporal summation and conditioned pain modulation (CPM), and recalls of pain magnitude at the onset of chest pain were obtained in 67 patients with first ST elevation myocardial infarction. The study's primary outcome was prehospital patient delay. The median patient delay was 24 (interquartile range, 0.5-72) hours. Of all psychophysical pain measures including pain threshold, magnitude estimation of suprathreshold stimulation, mechanical temporal summation, as well as CPM, only warm sensation threshold was independently associated with lower clinical chest pain intensity (P = 0.01). Multivariable regression analysis (R = 0.449; P < 0.0001) revealed an inverse independent association between chest pain intensity (P < 0.001) and patient delay, whereas efficient CPM was positively associated with prolonged patient delay (P = 0.034). The electrocardiography-derived myocardial ischemic area was not associated with chest pain intensity or patient delay, indicating that the affected ischemic tissue is not a dominant component that determines pain response. In conclusion, beyond the perceived chest pain intensity, the activation pattern of descending inhibition pathways during coronary occlusion affects pain interpretation and behavior during acute coronary occlusion.

Design and rationale of the ANALYZE ST study: a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter ST monitoring study to detect acute coronary syndrome events in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients

BACKGROUND

In the setting of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, timely restoration of normal blood flow is associated with improved myocardial salvage and survival. Despite improvements in door-to-needle and door-to-balloon times, there remains an unmet need with respect to improved symptom-to-door times. A prior report of an implanted device to monitor ST-segment deviation demonstrated very short times to reperfusion among patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with documented thrombotic occlusion. The goal of the ANALYZE ST study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a novel ST-segment monitoring feature using an existing implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) among patients with known coronary artery disease.

METHODS

The ANALYZE ST study is a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter, pivotal Investigational Device Exemption study enrolling 5,228 patients with newly implanted ICD systems for standard clinical indications who also have a documented history of coronary artery disease. Patients will be monitored for 48 months, during which effectiveness of the device for the purpose of early detection of cardiac injury will be evaluated by analyzing the sensitivity of the ST monitoring feature to identify clinical ACS events. In addition, the safety of the ST monitoring feature will be evaluated through the assessment of the percentage of patients for which monitoring produces a false-positive event over the course of 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The ANALYZE ST trial is testing the hypothesis that the ST monitoring feature in the Fortify ST ICD system (St. Jude Medical, Inc., St. Paul, MN) (or other ICD systems with the ST monitoring feature) will accurately identify patients with clinical ACS events.

The availability of prior ECGs improves paramedic accuracy in recognizing ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

INTRODUCTION

Early and accurate identification of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by prehospital providers has been shown to significantly improve door to balloon times and improve patient outcomes. Previous studies have shown that paramedic accuracy in reading 12 lead ECGs can range from 86% to 94%. However, recent studies have demonstrated that accuracy diminishes for the more uncommon STEMI presentations (e.g. lateral). Unlike hospital physicians, paramedics rarely have the ability to review previous ECGs for comparison. Whether or not a prior ECG can improve paramedic accuracy is not known.

STUDY HYPOTHESIS

The availability of prior ECGs improves paramedic accuracy in ECG interpretation.

METHODS

130 paramedics were given a single clinical scenario. Then they were randomly assigned 12 computerized prehospital ECGs, 6 with and 6 without an accompanying prior ECG. All ECGs were obtained from a local STEMI registry. For each ECG paramedics were asked to determine whether or not there was a STEMI and to rate their confidence in their interpretation. To determine if the old ECGs improved accuracy we used a mixed effects logistic regression model to calculate p-values between the control and intervention.

RESULTS

The addition of a previous ECG improved the accuracy of identifying STEMIs from 75.5% to 80.5% (p=0.015). A previous ECG also increased paramedic confidence in their interpretation (p=0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

The availability of previous ECGs improves paramedic accuracy and enhances their confidence in interpreting STEMIs. Further studies are needed to evaluate this impact in a clinical setting.

Rationale and design of the AngeLmed for Early Recognition and Treatment of STEMI trial: a randomized, prospective clinical investigation

Significant improvements in door-to-balloon times have led to a reduction in mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; however, mean symptom-to-door times remain at 2 to 3 hours. An intracardiac electrogram monitoring device may be beneficial in high-risk patients by alerting them to rapidly progressive ST-segment changes indicative of acute coronary occlusion. The Cardiosaver and DETECT phase I clinical studies demonstrated the safety, feasibility, and potential benefit of using an intracardiac electrogram monitoring device to alert the patient to seek medical attention. The goal of the randomized, prospective ALERTS Trial (Clinicaltrials.gov no. NCT00781118) is to evaluate the efficacy of an implantable monitoring device (IMD) in reducing the composite of either cardiac or unexplained death, new Q-wave myocardial infarction, or symptom-to-door time of >2 hours for confirmed thrombotic events. The IMD alerts the patient in real time when ST-segment deviation from a personalized baseline exceeds the trigger threshold. The trial is designed to enroll high-risk post-acute coronary syndrome patients or patients with previous multivessel coronary artery bypass surgery. All patients have the IMD implanted, with 1:1 unblinded randomization to the alerting feature being either turned on versus turned off for the first 6 months. Randomization occurs at the first follow-up visit, 7 to 14 days after the implantation of the IMD. Subjects then return for follow-up visits at months 1, 3, and 6 and thereafter every 6 months until closure of the investigational device exemption. Subjects who cannot be implanted successfully or who have the device explanted are removed from the study and followed up for a minimum of 30 days post-procedure. If a subject experiences a device-related complication and/or adverse experience, the subject is followed up until resolution or until the condition becomes stable and no further change is anticipated.

Self-referral to chest pain units: results of the German CPU-registry

BACKGROUND

Chest pain units (CPUs) are increasingly established in emergency cardiology services. With improved visibility of CPUs in the population, patients may refer themselves directly to these units, obviating emergency medical services (EMS). Little is known about characteristics and outcomes of self-referred patients, as compared with those referred by EMS. Therefore, we described self-referral patients enrolled in the CPU-registry of the German Cardiac Society and compared them with those referred by EMS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From 2008 until 2010, the prospective CPU-registry enrolled 11,581 consecutive patients. Of those 3789 (32.7%) were self-referrals (SRs), while 7792 (67.3%) were referred by EMS. SR-patients were significantly younger (63.6 vs. 70.1 years), had less prior myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass surgery, but more previous percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). Acute coronary syndromes were diagnosed less frequently in the SR-patients (30.3 vs. 46.9%; p<0.0001). SR-patients showed ST-segment changes in their initial ECG in 19.6% of cases. EMS-patients underwent more coronary angiographies (60.0 vs. 47.5%; p<0.0001), while SR-patients underwent more stress tests (11.3 vs. 7.8%; p<0.001). PCI was performed in 32.6% of the EMS- and in 24.0% of the SR-group (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

These data demonstrate that patients who contact a CPU as a self-referral are younger, less severely ill and have more non-coronary problems than those calling an emergency medical service. Nevertheless, 30% of self-referral patients had an acute coronary syndrome.

Use of emergency medical services in the second gulf registry of acute coronary events

Data are scarce regarding emergency medical service (EMS) usage by patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Arabian Gulf region. This 9-month in-hospital prospective ACS registry was conducted in Arabian Gulf countries, with 30-day and 1-year follow-up mortality rates. Of 5184 patients with ACS, 1293 (25%) arrived at the hospital by EMS. The EMS group (vs non-EMS) was more likely to be male, have cardiac arrest on presentation, be current or exsmokers, and have moderate or severe left ventricular dysfunction and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The EMS group had higher crude mortality rates during hospitalization and after hospital discharge but not after adjustment for clinical factors and treatments. The EMSs are underused in the Arabian Gulf region. Short- and long-term mortality rates in patients with ACS are similar between those who used and did not use EMS. Quality improvement in the EMS infrastructure and establishment of integrated STEMI networks are urgently needed.

Prehospital electrocardiography: a review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

The American Heart Association and other scientific guidelines recommend emergency medical services acquire prehospital (PH) electrocardiography (ECG) in all patients with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome. The purpose of this article is to critically review the scientific literature about PH ECG.

METHODS

Using multiple search terms, we searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases for relevant information. Search limiters were used: human, research (clinical trials, experimental), core journals, and adult. All articles about the clinical effects of PH ECG published between 2001 and 2011 were retained, in addition to a landmark study from 1997.

RESULTS

Our search yielded a total of 105 articles when all years of publication were considered. When the same search was limited to articles published between 2001 and 2011 for new and current data, 45 articles were returned. A total of 7 articles about the clinical effects of PH ECG were retained for this review. Articles were conceptualized and organized by clinical effects of PH ECG (timing, reperfusion rate, death, ejection fraction, reinfarction, and stroke). PH ECG has been associated with reduced PH delay time, increased use of reperfusion interventions, earlier diagnosis, and faster time to treatment.

DISCUSSION

PH ECG plays a major role in emergency cardiac systems of care and can facilitate early intervention by identifying patients with acute coronary syndrome sooner.

What is a health emergency? The difference in definition and understanding between patients and health professionals

BACKGROUND

Investigations into 'inappropriate' use of emergency health services are limited by the lack of definition of what constitutes a health emergency. Position papers from Australian and international sources emphasise the patient's right to access emergency healthcare, and the responsibility of emergency health care workers to provide treatment to all patients. However, discordance between the two perspectives remain, with literature labelling patient use of emergency health services as 'inappropriate'.

OBJECTIVE

To define a 'health emergency' and compare patient and health professionals perspectives.

METHOD

A sample of 600 emergency department (ED) patients were surveyed about a recent health experience and asked to rate their perceived urgency. This rating was compared to their triage score allocated at the hospital ED.

RESULTS

No significant relationship was found between the two ratings of urgency (P=0.51). CONCLUSIONS; Differing definitions of a 'health emergency' may explain patient help-seeking behaviour when accessing emergency health resources including hospital ED and ambulance services. A new definition of health emergency that encapsulates the health professional and patient perspectives is proposed. An agreed definition of when emergency health resources should be used has the potential to improve emergency health services demand and patient flow issues, and optimise emergency health resource allocation.

Use of emergency medical service transport among patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction: findings from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Acute Coronary Treatment Intervention Outcomes Network Registry-Get With The Guidelines

BACKGROUND

Activation of emergency medical services (EMS) is critical for the early triage and treatment of patients experiencing ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, yet data regarding EMS use and its association with subsequent clinical care are limited.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed an observational analysis of 37 634 ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients treated at 372 US hospitals participating in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry-Get With the Guidelines between January 2007 and September 2009, and examined independent patient factors associated with EMS transportation versus patient self-transportation. We found that EMS transport was used in only 60% of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients. Older patients, those living farther from the hospital, and those with hemodynamic compromise were more likely to use EMS transport. In contrast, race, income, and education level did not appear to be associated with the mode of transport. Compared with self-transported patients, EMS-transported patients had significantly shorter delays in both symptom-onset-to-arrival time (median, 89 versus 120 minutes; P<0.0001) and door-to-reperfusion time (median door-to-balloon time, 63 versus 76 minutes; P<0.0001; median door-to-needle time, 23 versus 29 minutes; P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency medical services transportation to the hospital is underused among contemporary ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients. Nevertheless, use of EMS transportation is associated with substantial reductions in ischemic time and treatment delays. Community education efforts are needed to improve the use of emergency transport as part of system-wide strategies to improve ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction reperfusion care.

Knowledge of a patient-dependant phase of acute myocardial infarction in Polish adults: the role of physician's advice

BACKGROUND

Effective management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is limited by patient delay in calling an ambulance. We aimed to assess knowledge related to a patient-dependant phase of AMI and its determinants in adults.

METHODS

Questionnaire survey was conducted among a random sample of 942 men (48%) and women (52%) aged 63.50 ± 6.50 selected from population registers in Cracow (Poland). Questions from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to assess knowledge of AMI symptoms. The respondents were further asked about the first thing they would do in response to AMI symptoms, the emergency phone number and whether a doctor advised them about AMI.

RESULTS

All suggested AMI symptoms were recognized by 51 (5.4%) respondents. More persons would call an ambulance in response to AMI symptoms in another person than if they appear in themselves (87.4% vs. 74.4%, P = 0.02). Only 644 (68%) participants knew the emergency phone number and 104 (11%) were advised about AMI by their doctors. Such advice was associated with higher rates of knowledge of AMI symptoms and the emergency phone number but not with a declaration of the appropriate reaction to AMI symptoms. Participants after AMI did not represent better knowledge of a patient-dependant phase of AMI but paradoxically less frequently than other persons declared calling an ambulance in response to AMI symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Improvement in knowledge and attitudes related to a patient-dependant phase of AMI is needed in adults even if they experienced AMI before. A routine advice from a doctor may contribute significantly to this improvement.

Utilization of emergency medical services by patients with acute coronary syndromes in the Arab Gulf States

BACKGROUND

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) play a central role in caring for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). To date, no data exist on utilization of EMS systems in the Arab Gulf States.

OBJECTIVE

To examine EMS use by patients with ACS in the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE).

METHODS

Gulf RACE was a prospective, multinational study conducted in 2007 of all patients hospitalized with ACS in 65 centers in six Arab countries. Data were analyzed based on mode of presentation (EMS vs. other).

RESULTS

Of 7859 patients hospitalized with ACS through the emergency department (ED), only 1336 (17%) used EMS, with wide variation among countries (2% in Yemen to 37% in Oman). Younger age (odds ratio [OR] 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.15 per 10-year decrement), presence of chest pain (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.48-2.03), prior myocardial infarction (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.34-1.86), prior percutaneous coronary intervention (OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.02-1.59), family history of premature coronary disease (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.09-1.51), and current smoking (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.13-1.50) were independently associated with not utilizing EMS. Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction/left bundle branch block myocardial infarction who were transported by EMS were significantly less likely to exhibit major delay in presentation, and were significantly more likely to receive favorable processes of care, including shorter door-to-electrocardiogram time, more frequent coronary reperfusion therapy, and thrombolytic therapy within 30 min of arrival at the ED.

CONCLUSION

Despite current recommendations, fewer than 1 in 5 patients with ACS use EMS in the Arab Gulf States, highlighting a significant opportunity for improvement. Factors causing this underutilization deserve further investigation.

Inappropriate dispatcher decision for emergency medical service users with acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES

Current guidelines recommend utilization of prehospital emergency medical services (EMSs) by patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aims of this study were to estimate the percentage of inappropriate initial dispatcher decisions and determine their impact on delays in reperfusion therapy for EMS users with STEMI.

METHODS

As part of a prospective regional registry of patients with STEMI, we analyzed the original data for 245 patients who called a university hospital-affiliated EMS call center in France. The primary study outcome was time to reperfusion therapy calculated from the documented date and time of the first patient call.

RESULTS

The initial EMS dispatcher's decision was appropriate (ie, dispatching a mobile intensive care unit staffed by an emergency or critical care physician) for 171 (70%) patients and inappropriate for 74 (30%) patients. Inappropriate decisions included referring the patient to a family physician (n = 59), providing medical advice (n = 9), and dispatching an ambulance (n = 6). Inappropriate initial decisions resulted in increased median time to reperfusion for 140 patients receiving fibrinolysis (95 vs 53 minutes; P < .001) and 91 patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (170 vs 107 minutes; P < .001). In-hospital mortality was not different between the 2 study groups (6.8% vs 9.9%; P = .42).

CONCLUSION

The initial dispatcher's decision is inappropriate for 30% of EMS users with STEMI and results in substantial delays in time to reperfusion therapy. Accuracy of telephone triage should be improved for patients who activate EMSs in response to symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome.

Initial ECG acquisition within 10 minutes of arrival at the emergency department in persons with chest pain: time and gender differences

INTRODUCTION

The American Heart Association recommends all patients presenting to the emergency department with complaints of chest pain/anginal equivalent symptoms receive an initial ECG within 10 minutes of presentation. The Synthesized Twelve-lead ST Monitoring & Real-time Tele-electrocardiography (ST SMART) study is a prospective randomized clinical trial that enrolls all subjects who call 911 for ischemic complaints in Santa Cruz County, California. ST SMART is a 5-year study ending in 2008. The primary aim of the ST SMART study is to determine whether subjects who receive prehospital ECG have more timely hospital intervention and better outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this secondary analysis of a subset of ST SMART study data were to determine (1) the rate of adherence to the American Heart Association goal in smaller community hospitals in less populous areas of receiving initial hospital ECG within the recommended 10 minutes and (2) whether there were gender differences in meeting this goal.

METHODS

The dataset included patients 30 years of age and older who were transported by ambulance to 1 of 2 rural hospitals in Santa Cruz County. All patients received an initial hospital ECG after arrival at the emergency department.

RESULTS

In this analysis of 425 patients (mean age, 70.4 years; 53% male), the mean time for all patients from ED arrival to initial ECG was 43 minutes (±145). The mean time to initial ECG was 34 minutes (±125) in male patients versus 53 minutes (±165) in female patients (Mann-Whitney test, P = .001). Forty-one percent of all patients presenting with ischemic symptoms received an initial ECG within 10 minutes of arrival. Forty-nine percent of male patients versus 32% of female patients received an initial ECG in 10 minutes or less (Fisher exact test, P = .000).

CONCLUSION

In this analysis, the majority of patients with ischemic symptoms did not receive an ECG within 10 minutes of hospital presentation as recommended in evidence-based guidelines. There is a significant delay in door to time-to-ECG for women. ED nurses are in a unique position to initiate efforts to establish processes to decrease time to initial ECG for patients with ischemic symptoms. Attention to timely ECG acquisition in women may improve treatment of acute coronary syndromes in this group.

Mode of arrival does not predict myocardial infarction in patients who present to the ED with chest pain

Aims

This study aims to determine if patients who arrive by ambulance with a chief complaint of chest pain have a higher risk of myocardial infarction (MI) than those who arrive via alternate transportation.

Methods

All patients ages 18–99 who presented to an urban academic ED between January 2006 and July 2006 with a chief complaint that included “chest pain” were eligible for retrospective analysis. Patients who were transferred or who left without being seen or against medical advice were excluded. Myocardial infarction was defined as patients who were admitted and who had elevated troponin I or went urgently to catheterization laboratory and had >90% occlusion of a vessel, with a final clinical impression of MI.

Results

There were 690 visits for chest pain during the study period, representing 4% of total ED census. A total of 39 visits met exclusion criteria, and 37 patients had 52 repeat visits, leaving 599 unique patients included for analysis. Mean age was 48.8 ± 1.4 years (SD 17.7), 44.6% were female, and 35 patients (5.8%) were diagnosed with MI. In all, 157 patients (26.2%) arrived via EMS. Patients who arrived by ambulance did not have a significant difference in rate of MI when compared with alternate transportation [7.0% vs. 5.4%, OR (95% CI) = 1.3 (0.6–2.7), p = 0.469]. Only 31.4% (11/35) of patients who ultimately were diagnosed with MI arrived by ambulance.

Conclusion

We were unable to show a significant difference in rate of MI between patients who arrived via ambulance or private transportation. Equal consideration and urgency should be given to both types of patients when they arrive at the ED.

Lay public's knowledge and decisions in response to symptoms of acute myocardial infarction

Despite public health initiatives targeting rapid action in response to symptoms of myocardial infarction (MI), people continue to delay in going to a hospital when experiencing these symptoms due to lack of recognition as cardiac-related. The objective of this research was to characterize lay individuals' knowledge of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and associated decision processes for timely action. Thirty participants were interviewed about their knowledge of AMI, then presented with unrelated, unfamiliar and familiar scenarios of AMI symptoms and instructed to "think aloud" as they made decisions in response to the scenarios in order to capture the decision process directly. Data were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods to identify the semantic relationships between knowledge and decisions. Results showed that most participants (80%) identified three symptoms or less (e.g., chest pain: 93%; dyspnea: 53%). All participants identified urgent actions (calling 911, going to ED) as the appropriate response to AMI symptoms. Urgent action decisions increased with familiarity of symptoms (57% for unrelated symptoms to 83% for most familiar symptoms), and was highest for the cardiac group. Lay knowledge of AMI is necessary, but not sufficient for people to develop required heuristics for timely action. This ineffective decision increases as a function of ambiguous and unfamiliar situations. Health education interventions should focus on teaching clusters of problems with varying levels of familiarity and complexity to increase flexibility in making decisions.

Disparities in knowledge of heart attack and stroke symptoms among adult men: an analysis of behavioral risk factor surveillance survey data

CONTEXT

The staggering burden of myocardial infarction and stroke in men and for men of African-American descent in particular provided the impetus for this study. Morbidity and mortality from these vascular disorders can be reduced by early treatment, which requires correct prehospital identification of symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess current knowledge of myocardial infarction and stroke symptoms and to examine if there were disparities in knowledge of these among U.S. males.

DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional study analyzing public use 2003-2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate techniques were used.

SETTING

Random-digit-dial telephone survey focused on health risk factors and behaviors. Data collection was done under the direction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Data collections targeted noninstitutionalized U.S. adults 18-90 years of age. This study focused on the adult male population.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

From the 13 heart attack and stroke symptom knowledge questions asked on the survey, a heart attack and stroke knowledge score was computed for each respondent.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis revealed that both Caucasian and African-American men earning low scores on the knowledge questions were more likely to: have less than a high-school education, have deferred medical care in the past 12 months because of cost and not have health insurance in the past 12 months. African-American men were also more likely to live in households with annual incomes < $35,000 and were more likely to not have a primary care provider; this was not true for Caucasian men.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a disparity in myocardial infarction and stroke symptom knowledge along racial and socioeconomic lines. African-American males, poorer individuals and those with lower levels of education had significantly lower scores. Since these subgroups are also among those at higher risk for stroke and myocardial infarction, targeting measures to enhance knowledge in these groups might yield more benefit than programs aimed at the general male populace.