Abstract
Fifty-five per cent (73/133) of myocardial infarction (MI) patients on Cape Cod during a three-month period reached the hospital by ambulance. the 45 per cent (60/133) not using ambulances were compared to users to identify a subpopulation to which public health programs might be directed to increase appropriate use of cardiac ambulances. Univariate analyses showed a distnce of more than ten miles from the hospital, and a prior history of MI distinguished ambulance users from non-users. Demographic/economic status, delay in seeking care, presenting symptoms, Killip class, and in-hospital mortality rates were not signigicantly different. Step-wise discriminant analysis identified four predictive variables in rank order: distance from the hospital, past history of MI, symptoms of fainting, and negative history for hypertension which correctly classified 72 per cent of our population with respect to ambulance utilization.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Hackett T. P., Cassem N. H. Factors contributing to delay in responding to the signs and symptoms of acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol. 1969 Nov;24(5):651–658. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(69)90452-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Killip T., 3rd, Kimball J. T. Treatment of myocardial infarction in a coronary care unit. A two year experience with 250 patients. Am J Cardiol. 1967 Oct;20(4):457–464. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(67)90023-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Liberthson R. R., Nagel E. L., Hirschman J. C., Nussenfeld S. R. Prehospital ventricular defibrillation. Prognosis and follow-up course. N Engl J Med. 1974 Aug 15;291(7):317–321. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197408152910701. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Moss A. J., Wynar B., Goldstein S. Delay in hospitalization during the acute coronary period. Am J Cardiol. 1969 Nov;24(5):659–665. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(69)90453-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sidel V. W., Acton J., Lown B. Models for the evaluation of pre-hospital coronary care. Am J Cardiol. 1969 Nov;24(5):674–688. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(69)90455-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]