Summary
Sex-related differences in emergency department management of acute coronary syndrome with ST elevation
Carbajosa Dalmau J, Llorens Soriano P, Diéguez Zaragoza S, Carratalá Perales JM, Díaz Dámaso J, Martínez Beloqui E, Pastor Cesteros R
Affiliation of the authors
Servicio de Urgencias, Unidad de Corta Estancia y Unidad de Hospitalización a Domicilio. Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Spain. Servicio de Urgencias, Unidad de Corta Estancia. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Spain. Cátedra de Medi
DOI
Quote
Carbajosa Dalmau J, Llorens Soriano P, Diéguez Zaragoza S, Carratalá Perales JM, Díaz Dámaso J, Martínez Beloqui E, et al. Sex-related differences in emergency department management of acute coronary syndrome with ST elevation. Emergencias. 2011;23:87-92
Summary
Background and objective: Higher mortality rates for women with acute coronary
syndrome with ST elevation have been reported. Our aim was to analyze patient
characteristics and care provided by our emergency department both before and after
arrival at the hospital in order to detect sex-related differences in approach to care.
Patients and methods: Longitudinal, observational study of consecutive patients with
acute coronary syndrome with ST elevation attended by a general hospital emergency
department between March 2001 and June 2007. The study fell within the scope of
work carried out by the Spanish Register of Myocardial Infarction Emergencies (RESIM).
Patient characteristics, clinical variables, timing, and treatment administered before and
after arrival at the hospital were analyzed.
Results: Of the 214 cases registered, 160 (74.8%) were men. The mean (SD) age was
64.4 (12.6) years. The women were older (71.7 [10.6] years) than the men (62 [12.3]
years). Diabetes mellitus was more common in women and hypertension and smoking
more common in men. Care differed with regard to time elapsed between onset of
symptoms to arrival at the hospital (men, 240.3 minutes; women, 503.3 minutes;
P<.05), time elapsed between onset of symptoms and an electrocardiogram (ECG) (men, 240.6 minutes; women, 516.4 minutes; P<.01), and time elapsed between arrival at the hospital and an ECG (men, 6.4 minutes; women, 13 minutes; P<.01). There were no differences in type of transport used or in treatment given before or after arrival at the hospital. Conclusions: Care for women with acute coronary syndrome with ST elevation is subject to longer delays. Awareness of this may improve emergency care given to women.