BACKGROUNDAcute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of morbidity and disability among Iranian population. Pre-hospital delay is an important cause of increasing early and also late mortality in AMI. Thus the aim of the present study was to identify the factors influencing pre-hospital delay among patients with AMI in Iran.

METHODSBetween August 2010 and May 2011, a cross-sectional and single-center survey was conducted on 162 consecutive patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) admitted to Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) of Dr. Heshmat Hospital, Rasht. All patients were interviewed by the third author within 7 days after admission by using a four-part questionnaire including socio-demographic, clinical, situational and cognitive factors. Data were analyzed by descriptive and Logistic regression model at P < 0.05 using SPSS 16.

RESULTSMean age was (60.11 ± 12.29) years in all patients. Majority of patients (65.4%) were male. The median of pre-hospital delay was 2 hours, with a mean delay of 7.4 hours (± 16.25 hours). Regression analysis showed that admission in weekend (P < 0.04, OR = 1.033, 95%CI = 1.187 - 2.006) and misinterpretation of symptoms as cardiac origin (P < 0.002, OR = 1.986, 95%CI = 1.254 - 3.155) and perceiving symptoms to not be so serious (P < 0.003, OR = 3.264, 95%CI = 1.492 - 7.142) were factors influencing pre-hospital delay > 2 hours.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings highlight the importance of cognitive factors on decision-making process and pre-hospital delays. Health care providers can educate the public on AMI to enable them recognize the signs and symptoms of AMI correctly and realize the benefits of early treatment.

Acute Disease ; psychology ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Decision Making ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; psychology ; Time Factors