Comparison of Clinical Manifestations and Treatment-Seeking Behavior in Younger and Older Patients with First-time Acute Coronary Syndrome.
10.4040/jkan.2009.39.6.888
- Author:
Seon Young HWANG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea. seon9772@chosun.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Comparative Study ; English Abstract ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Acute coronary syndrome;
Acute myocardial infarction;
Health care seeking behavior
- MeSH:
Acute Coronary Syndrome/complications/diagnosis/*psychology;
Adult;
Age Factors;
Aged;
Aged, 80 and over;
Attitude to Health;
Chest Pain/complications;
Diabetes Complications/complications;
Dyspnea/complications;
Female;
*Health Behavior;
Humans;
Hypertension/complications;
Interviews as Topic;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Nausea/complications;
Questionnaires;
Risk Factors;
Syncope/complications;
Time Factors
- From:Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
2009;39(6):888-898
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine and compare clinical manifestations and predicting factors for treatment-seeking delay among patients <65 and > or =65 yr with first-time acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: A total of 288 patients who were diagnosed with ACS were individually interviewed at C university hospital in G-city from November 2007 to December 2008. RESULTS: Median pre-hospital delays for younger and older patients were 5 and 12 hr, respectively. Younger patients were more likely to be current smokers, heavy drinkers, obese, stressed, and have an unhealthy diet and family history, and to complain of chest pain, left shoulder and arm pain, perspiration, and nausea. Older patients were more likely to have hypertension and diabetes, and to complain syncope and dyspnea. Logistic regression analyses showed that after adjustment for age, gender and education, progressive onset of symptom and no attribution to cardiac problem significantly predicted pre-hospital delay >3 hr in both younger and older patients. Low perceived health status was a significant independent predictor in older patients only. CONCLUSION: Health care providers should be concerned with different manifestations between younger and older adults, and educate people at risk for heart attack about symptoms and actions to get immediate help.
