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Aims: A short time span from symptom onset to reperfusion is imperative in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with patient decision time for seeking care in STEMI, particularly how symptoms were experienced and affected patient response., Methods and Results: A multicentre cross-sectional self-report survey study was completed at five Swedish hospitals representing geographic diversity. The 521 patients were divided into three groups based on their time to respond to symptoms: early (<20 min), intermediate (20-90 min), and late responders (>90 min). Only one out of five patients both responded early and called an ambulance within 20 min. Believing symptoms were cardiac in origin [odds ratio (OR) 2.60], male sex (OR 2.40), left anterior descending artery as culprit artery (OR 1.77), and bystanders calling an ambulance (OR 4.32) were factors associated with early response and correct action. Associated symptoms such as dyspnoea (OR 1.67) and weakness (OR 1.65) were associated with an early action (<20 min), while chest pain was not independently associated with response time. Cold sweat (OR 0.61) prevented late care-seeking behaviour as did a high symptom burden (OR 0.86)., Conclusion: Misinterpretation of symptoms delays correct care-seeking behaviour because patient expectations may not be aligned with the experience when stricken by Myocardial infarction. Therefore, it is imperative to continuously enhance public awareness in correct symptom recognition and appropriate care-seeking behaviour and to make efforts to educate individuals at risk for STEMI as well as their next of kin., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2022. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Aim: In ST-elevation myocardial infarction, time to reperfusion is crucial for the prognosis. Symptom presentation in myocardial infarction influences pre-hospital delay times but studies about differences in symptoms between patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction are sparse and inconclusive. The aim was to compare symptoms, first medical contact and pre-hospital delay times in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction., Methods and Results: This multicentre, observational study included 694 myocardial infarction patients from five hospitals. The patients filled in a questionnaire about their pre-hospital experiences within 24 h of hospital admittance. Chest pain was the most common symptom in ST-elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (88.7 vs 87.0%, p=0.56). Patients with cold sweat (odds ratio 3.61, 95% confidence interval 2.29-5.70), jaw pain (odds ratio 2.41, 95% confidence interval 1.04-5.58), and nausea (odds ratio 1.70, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.87) were more likely to present with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, whereas the opposite was true for symptoms that come and go (odds ratio 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.38-0.90) or anxiety (odds ratio 0.52, 95% confidence interval 0.29-0.92). Use of emergency medical services was higher among patients admitted with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The pre-hospital delay time from symptom onset to first medical contact was significantly longer in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (2:05 h vs 1:10 h, p=0.001)., Conclusion: Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction differed from those with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction regarding symptom presentation, ambulance utilisation and pre-hospital delay times. This knowledge is important to be aware of for all healthcare personnel and the general public especially in order to recognise symptoms suggestive of ST-elevation myocardial infarction and when to decide if there is a need for an ambulance.

Background: Symptom presentation has been sparsely studied from a gender perspective restricting the inclusion to ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Correct symptom recognition is vital in order to promptly seek care in STEMI where fast reperfusion therapy is of utmost importance. Female gender has been found associated with atypical presentation in studies on mixed MI populations but it is unclear whether this is valid also in STEMI., Objectives: We assessed whether there are gender differences in symptoms and interpretation of these in STEMI, and if this is attributable to sociodemographic and clinical factors., Methods: SymTime was a multicenter observational study including a validated questionnaire and data from medical records. Eligible STEMI patients (n = 532) were enrolled within 24 h after admittance at five Swedish hospitals., Results: Women were older, more often single and had lower educational level. Chest pain was less prevalent in women (74 vs 93%, p < 0.001), whereas shoulder (33 vs 15%, p < 0.001), throat/neck (34 vs 18%, p < 0.001), back pain (29 versus 12%, p < 0.001) and nausea (49 vs 29%, p < 0.001) were more prevalent. Women less often interpreted their symptoms as of cardiac origin (60 vs 69%, p = 0.04). Female gender was the strongest independent predictor of non-chest pain presentation, odds ratio 5.29, 95% confidence interval 2.85-9.80., Conclusions: A striking gender difference in STEMI symptoms was found. As women significantly misinterpreted their symptoms more often, it is vital when informing about MI to the society or to high risk individuals, to highlight also other symptoms than just chest pain., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Compare gender disparities in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) regarding first medical contact (FMC) and prehospital delay times and explore factors associated with prehospital delay in men and women separately., Design: Cross-sectional study based on medical records and a validated questionnaire. Eligible patients were enrolled within 24 hours after admittance to hospital., Setting: Patients were included from November 2012 to January 2014 from five Swedish hospitals with catheterisation facilities 24/7., Participants: 340 men and 109 women aged between 31 and 95 years completed the survey., Main Outcome Measures: FMC were divided into five possible contacts: primary healthcare centre by phone or directly, national advisory nurse by phone, emergency medical services (EMS) and emergency room directly. Two parts of prehospital delay times were studied: time from symptom onset to FMC and time from symptom onset to diagnostic ECG., Results: Women more often called an advisory nurse as FMC (28% vs 18%, p=0.02). They had a longer delay until FMC, 90 (IQR 39-221) vs 66 (28-161) min, p=0.04 and until ECG, 146 (68-316) vs 103 (61-221) min, p=0.03. Men went to hospital because of believing they were stricken by an MI to a higher extent than women did (25% vs 15%, p=0.04) and were more often recommended to call EMS by bystanders (38% vs 22%, p<0.01). Hesitating about going to hospital and experiencing pain in the stomach/back/shoulders were factors associated with longer delays in women. Believing the symptoms would disappear or interpreting them as nothing serious were corresponding factors in men. In both genders bystanders acting by contacting EMS explained shorter prehospital delays., Conclusions: In STEMI, women differed from men in FMC and they had longer delays. This was partly due to atypical symptoms and a longer decision time. Bystanders acted more promptly when men than when women fell ill. Public knowledge of MI symptoms, and how to act properly, still seems insufficient., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Objectives: To evaluate gender differences in outcomes in patents with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) planned for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI)., Settings: A prespecified gender analysis of the multicentre, randomised, double-blind Administration of Ticagrelor in the catheterisation Laboratory or in the Ambulance for New ST elevation myocardial Infarction to open the Coronary artery., Participants: Between September 2011 and October 2013, 1862 patients with STEMI and symptom duration <6 hours were included., Interventions: Patients were assigned to prehospital versus in-hospital administration of 180 mg ticagrelor., Outcomes: The main objective was to study the association between gender and primary and secondary outcomes of the main study with a focus on the clinical efficacy and safety outcomes., Primary Outcome: the proportion of patients who did not have 70% resolution of ST-segment elevation and did not meet the criteria for Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow 3 at initial angiography. Secondary outcome: the composite of death, MI, stent thrombosis, stroke or urgent revascularisation and major or minor bleeding at 30 days., Results: Women were older, had higher TIMI risk score, longer prehospital delays and better TIMI flow in the infarct-related artery. Women had a threefold higher risk for all-cause mortality compared with men (5.7% vs 1.9%, HR 3.13, 95% CI 1.78 to 5.51). After adjustment, the difference was attenuated but remained statistically significant (HR 2.08, 95% CI 1.03 to 4.20). The incidence of major bleeding events was twofold to threefold higher in women compared with men. In the multivariable model, female gender was not an independent predictor of bleeding (Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes major HR 1.45, 95% CI 0.73 to 2.86, TIMI major HR 1.28, 95% CI 0.47 to 3.48, Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 3-5 HR 1.45, 95% CI 0.72 to 2.91). There was no interaction between gender and efficacy or safety of randomised treatment., Conclusion: In patients with STEMI planned for PPCI and treated with modern antiplatelet therapy, female gender was an independent predictor of short-term mortality. In contrast, the higher incidence of bleeding complications in women could mainly be explained by older age and clustering of comorbidities., Clinical Trial Registration: NCT01347580;Post-results., Competing Interests: Competing interests: DV reports that he has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose. SSL reports that she has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose. JA reports receiving lecture fees from AstraZeneca. MJ reports receiving lecture fees from AstraZeneca and Sanofi. AC reports that he has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose. MC reports that he has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose. SGG reports receiving research grants and speaker/consulting honoraria from AstraZeneca, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck and The Medicines Company. AWvH reports receiving research and educational grants from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly/Daiichi-Sankyo, Merck/Correvio, Medtronic and The Medicines Company and speaker fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly/Daiichi-Sankyo, Merck/Correvio, Medtronic, The Medicines Company, Pfizer and SGM reports receiving research grants to the Institution or consulting/lecture fees from Acuitude, ADIR, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Berlin Chimie AG, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Brigham Women’s Hospital, Cardiovascular Research Foundation, Celladon, CME resources, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eli Lilly, Europa, Fédération Française de Cardiologie, Gilead, Hopitaux Universitaires Genève, ICAN, Janssen-Cilag, Lead-Up, Medcon International, Menarini, Medtronic, MSD, Pfizer, Recor, Sanofi-Aventis, Stentys, The Medicines Company, TIMI Study Group, Universitat Basel, WebMD and Zoll Medical. ES reports receiving lecture fees from AstraZeneca., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)