Reviewing time intervals from onset of the symptoms to thrombolytic therapy in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)

Abstract

• BACKGROUND: Coronary artery diseases are one of the causes of early death all over the world. In developed countries, ischemic heart disease is responsible for the half of the entire mortalities; however in developing countries it is estimated from 9 million deaths per year annually 32 percent of all deaths due to coronary artery disease. Acute coronary syndromes are responsible for over 250,000 deaths per year caused by progressive atherosclerotic process which would lead to rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque and establishing thrombosis. This study aimed to determine time intervals between the onset of the heart attack symptoms to thrombolytic therapy in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in selected hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2008.
• METHODS: In this study, 180 subjects with first time of STEMI were studied with categorized random sampling in cardiac care units of four hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences during 9 months. Necessary information collected by inquiry the patients and reviewing their records. The data included the demographic data of the patients, prehospital and in-hospital time intervals to thrombolytic therapy.
• RESULTS: The mean duration of time interval from the onset of heart attack symptoms to first action for seeking medical care was 01:16’ (01:36’) hours, from the symptoms onset to admission in emergency unit was 02:29’ (02:00’) and from admission in emergency to administration of thrombolytic drug was 01:04’ (01:14’).
• CONCLUSIONS: Time interval between onset of the acute coronary symptoms to seek medical care and arrival to the emergency unit in this study had a better condition than other studies, but the interval between the emergency admission and thrombolytic therapy was longer than other studies.
• KEY WORDS: Acute coronary syndrome, acute myocardial infarction, time intervals, thrombolytic therapy.