Abstract
Objective: To assess the factors that are associated with patients delay to call EMS when MI onset occur.
Methods: A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between May and July 2018 to recognize the factors that held most important regarding the correct time and response to the onset of MI. The questionnaire was distributed directly to the participants in Riyadh public facilities i.e. shopping malls and public parks. Participants response to EMS at the onset AMI was the primary outcome and outcome was divided into on-time (daytime) and off-time (nights and holidays).
Results: This study involved 395 Saudi participants. The mean age of the participants was 33.19 +/- 14.16. Diabetes and hypertension affected 13.5% and 11.5% of the participants, respectively. In off-time male participants were more likely to call EMS compare to female participants (42.2% vs 23.4%, p = 0.000). Participants with history of AMI, stroke or both and participants with no history of them didn't show any significant differences both in on-time or off-time. Muscular pain was the common reason why participants chose to wait both on-time (76.1%) and off-time (76.2%).
Conclusion: There is lack of awareness of the importance of early response to EMS. More awareness campaigns should be encouraged to avoid serious complications.