Padma Kaul1, Robert C Welsh2, Wei Liu2, Anamaria Savu2, Dale R Weiss3, Paul W Armstrong2. 1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Canadian VIGOUR Center, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: pkaul@ualberta.ca. 2. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Canadian VIGOUR Center, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 3. Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: At the first sign or symptoms consistent with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), patients are encouraged to call 9-1-1 and activate emergency medical services immediately. We examined: (1) temporal trends and provincial variations in the proportion of STEMI patients who arrive by ambulance; and (2) the association between patient demographic and clinical characteristics and ambulance use. METHODS: Hospital data for all patients 20 years or older who presented with a primary diagnosis of STEMI between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2013 in all provinces, except Quebec, were examined to identify ambulance use rates according to year and province. RESULTS: Among 67,232 STEMI hospitalizations (for 66,008 unique patients), the proportion of patients who presented by ambulance increased from 60% in fiscal year (FY) 2007 to 68% in FY 2012. In FY 2012, Alberta had the highest percentage of ambulance use (76%), followed by New Brunswick (73%) and Ontario (72%). At the province level, a higher rate of ambulance use was negatively correlated (r = -0.72; P = 0.04) with in-hospital mortality rate. Patients who presented by ambulance were older and more likely to be female. Self-presenters were more likely to be urban dwellers and present during work hours. Provincial differences in ambulance use remained after adjustment for patient characteristics, overall, and within specific patient subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of ambulance services among patients who presented with STEMI in Canada has increased significantly over the past 5 years, although significant interprovincial variation remains.
BACKGROUND: At the first sign or symptoms consistent with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), patients are encouraged to call 9-1-1 and activate emergency medical services immediately. We examined: (1) temporal trends and provincial variations in the proportion of STEMI patients who arrive by ambulance; and (2) the association between patient demographic and clinical characteristics and ambulance use. METHODS: Hospital data for all patients 20 years or older who presented with a primary diagnosis of STEMI between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2013 in all provinces, except Quebec, were examined to identify ambulance use rates according to year and province. RESULTS: Among 67,232 STEMI hospitalizations (for 66,008 unique patients), the proportion of patients who presented by ambulance increased from 60% in fiscal year (FY) 2007 to 68% in FY 2012. In FY 2012, Alberta had the highest percentage of ambulance use (76%), followed by New Brunswick (73%) and Ontario (72%). At the province level, a higher rate of ambulance use was negatively correlated (r = -0.72; P = 0.04) with in-hospital mortality rate. Patients who presented by ambulance were older and more likely to be female. Self-presenters were more likely to be urban dwellers and present during work hours. Provincial differences in ambulance use remained after adjustment for patient characteristics, overall, and within specific patient subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of ambulance services among patients who presented with STEMI in Canada has increased significantly over the past 5 years, although significant interprovincial variation remains.
Authors: Becky Yi-Wen Liao; Mildred Ai Wei Lee; Bridget Dicker; Verity F Todd; Ralph Stewart; Katrina Poppe; Andrew Kerr Journal: Open Heart Date: 2022-01
Authors: Joshua B Wenner; Graham C Wong; John A Cairns; Michele Perry-Arnesen; Wendy Tocher; Martha Mackay; Joel Singer; Terry Lee; Christopher B Fordyce Journal: CJC Open Date: 2020-01-30