PURPOSE
This comparative descriptive study was to identify gender differences in delay seeking treatment and related experiences in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
METHODS
Ninety-seven participants were recruited from a tertiary hospital.
RESULTS
Mean age of 47 women was 71.5±13.3 while that of men was 55.0±10.9 (p<.001). More women lived alone and were jobless, less educated, and poorer than men. Men were likely to be 'current smokers' and drink alcohol, however viewed themselves healthier than women (p=.030). Women's hospital stay was 9.23±21.04 days while men's was 4.86±2.72 days (p=.014). More women had been diagnosed with hypertension (p=.040). Women appeared to report significantly less pain (6.46±3.1) than men (8.44±1.8). More men described their pain as sudden onset (p=.015) and chest pain as major symptom (p=.034) than women. More women were found alone upon onset of symptoms (p=.023) and had important reasons for delay seeking treatment (p=.021) than men. Median time from onset of symptoms to seeking medical service was 1.5 hours for men and 5.1 hours for women (p=.003). Median time taken from onset of symptoms to hospital for therapy was 3.5 hours for men and 9.1 hours for women (p=.019).
CONCLUSION
This study findings that women reported less pain and delayed in seeking treatment, suggest needs for strategies targeting women at risk of AMI.

Citations

• Predictors of anticipated coping behavior at myocardial infarction symptom onset among a nationwide sample of Korean adults
  Kyong Sil Park
  Epidemiology and Health.2021; 43: e2021006.     CrossRef
• Blood Pressure Awareness and Knowledge of Cardio-Cerebrovascular Diseases in South Korean Women with Hypertension
  Yeo Won Jeong
  Healthcare.2021; 9(3): 360.     CrossRef