EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE A CORONARY CARE UNIT SURVEY AT DAMIETTA HOSPITAL

Abstract

Very early administration of thrombolytic therapy has the established efficacy of mortality reduction in AMI . Many factors that influence delays to presentation are also associated with a higher risk of mortality , and these factors vary with patient characteristics . These same factors are also associated with longer treatment delay and greater mortality risk . The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors which influenced the time from onset of symptoms of AMI to the onset of thrombolytic treatment and especially to assess the impact of risk factors for AMI and patient characteristics on patients delay . We also examine the relations of delays to clinical outcomes and to the relative in - hospital mortality.

This study included I 03 consecutive patients with ECG and enzyme confirmed AMI , who were admitted to CCU ofDamietta hospital 'during one year period from Jaunuary 1998 till December 1998 . 61% of patients were smoking and 32% were overweight , females more severly so than males . Hypertension , Diabetes , previous history of AMI and angina were significantly more at age > 70 years. [ 88.8%, P < 0.001 ] , [ 66.6% P < 0.001 ] , [ 33.3%, P< 0.05] and [ 55.5%, P < 0.05] respectively.

Men were significantly less likely to complain of neck pain [ P < 0.05 ] than women . Conversely, men were significantly more likely to r'eport diaphoresis [ 53.9%, P < 0.05 ] than women. There were no statistically significant sex differences in complaints of .chest though men were more likely to complain of this symptom.

The mean time delay from onset of symptoms to hospital presentation for those not receiving thrombolytic therapy was 14.79 versus 4.79 for those treated , yet the in - hospital delay in receiving thrombolytic treatment was 38.17 minutes . 15% were