Angela D Banks1, Kathleen Dracup. 1. University of San Francisco, Department of Adult Health, San Francisco, California, USA. adbanks@usfca.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To identify gender differences in delay time and the reasons why African Americans delay in seeking medical care for symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Five hospitals in the San Francisco and East Bay areas. PATIENTS: Sixty-one African American men and women diagnosed with an AMI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prehospital delay time. RESULTS: Median delay time was longer for women compared to men (4.4 hours vs 3.5 hours), although the difference was not significant. Single women delayed longer than single men (P = .03), and women who were alone when symptoms began delayed longer than women with someone (P = .03). Women who received advice to seek help or call 911 upon symptom onset had shorter delays compared to women who were not advised to call 911 (P = .01). Men at home delayed longer than men who experienced their symptoms outside the home (P = .01). Men with emergency room insurance delayed longer than men without emergency room insurance (P = .03), and men who took an ambulance to the hospital had shorter delay times than men who took other means of transportation (P = .04). CONCLUSION: Women compared to men often delay seeking treatment for an AMI, which further increases their risks. Our findings suggest specific characteristics that can serve as a profile to those African Americans most likely to delay seeking treatment for AMI.
OBJECTIVES: To identify gender differences in delay time and the reasons why African Americans delay in seeking medical care for symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Five hospitals in the San Francisco and East Bay areas. PATIENTS: Sixty-one African American men and women diagnosed with an AMI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prehospital delay time. RESULTS: Median delay time was longer for women compared to men (4.4 hours vs 3.5 hours), although the difference was not significant. Single women delayed longer than single men (P = .03), and women who were alone when symptoms began delayed longer than women with someone (P = .03). Women who received advice to seek help or call 911 upon symptom onset had shorter delays compared to women who were not advised to call 911 (P = .01). Men at home delayed longer than men who experienced their symptoms outside the home (P = .01). Men with emergency room insurance delayed longer than men without emergency room insurance (P = .03), and men who took an ambulance to the hospital had shorter delay times than men who took other means of transportation (P = .04). CONCLUSION:Women compared to men often delay seeking treatment for an AMI, which further increases their risks. Our findings suggest specific characteristics that can serve as a profile to those African Americans most likely to delay seeking treatment for AMI.
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