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Delay in the prehospital phase of acute myocardial infarction. Lack of influence on incidence of sudden death.

Authors :
Gillum RF
Feinleib M
Margolis JR
Fabsitz RR
Brasch RC
Source :
Archives of internal medicine [Arch Intern Med] 1976 Jun; Vol. 136 (6), pp. 649-54.
Publication Year :
1976

Abstract

Prehospital delay is considered to be an important cause of out-of-hospital coronary mortality. Behavior of patients and physicians in response to the symptoms of myocardial infarction (MI) or impending out-of-hospital death (OHD) was studied for 107 consecutive acute coronary events in Framingham, Mass. Delay due to inappropriate patient behavior was the most important component of total delay. Delay related to patient-physician contact occurred in two thirds of MI cases and was more than 30 minutes in half of these. Office visits and inappropriate triage by nurses and receptionists were important factors in physician delay. However, 60% to 75% of OHDs occur so rapidly that their prevention by reduction of prehospital delay seems impossible. A strategy for reduction of delay that might be of benefit in preventing some of the remaining OHDs is described.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0003-9926
Volume :
136
Issue :
6
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Archives of internal medicine
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
1275621