[Delay in management and treatment of patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction: role of the public, of extra- and intra-hospital structures and transportation methods].

The potential impact of thrombolytic agents on mortality and morbidity from coronary artery disease is weakened by in- and out-of-hospital delays occurring in the management of acute myocardial infarction. The goals of this study were to review the situation 5 years after the publication of the GISSI study. From October 1, 1991 to March 31, 1992, all the events occurring between symptom onset and in-hospital treatment were analyzed for 620 consecutive patients with suspected myocardial infarction seen in the emergency ward of the University Hospital, Geneva. Among them, 189 (30.5%) had myocardial infarction and 144 (23%) unstable angina. Mean and median delay between symptom onset and hospital arrival for the 620 patients were 10 h 02 min and 2 h 55 min respectively; 117 (19%) patients came straight to the hospital alone, with the risk of arrhythmic complications en route to the emergency ward but with shorter time delays (mean delay: 6 h 13 min; median delay: 2 h 30 min) than the 503 (81%) patients who called out-of-hospital services (mean delay: 10 h 55 min; median delay: 3 h; p < 0.04). The latter patients accounted for 47% of mean out-of-hospital delay and the out-of-hospital services for 53%. Minimization or ignorance of symptoms, waiting for relief from medication and attempts to reach relatives were responsible for long patients' decision times.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)