Chain of care in chest pain - Differences between three hospitals in an urban area.
Journal article, 2013

AIM: To describe differences in treatment and delay times in acute chest pain at the three hospitals in Göteborg, Sweden. METHODS: All patients admitted to the three hospitals within Sahlgrenska University (SU) (Sahlgrenska: SU/S, Östra: SU/Ö and Mölndal: SU/M) with acute chest pain during 3months in 2008 were evaluated for diagnosis, early treatment and outcome. RESULTS: In all, 2588 visits by 2393 patients were included (visits n=1253 SU/S; n=853 SU/Ö; n=482 SU/M) of which 50%, 63% and 51% were hospitalised (p<0.0001). Among hospitalised patients, a diagnosis of ACS was reported in 26%, 9% and 22% respectively (p<0.0001). Among ACS patients, 83%, 66% and 57% respectively underwent coronary angiography (p=0.004). The median delay to coronary angiography in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was 42min at SU/S, 3h 47min at SU/Ö and 2h 34min at SU/M (p=0.008). The corresponding values for coronary angiography in unstable coronary artery disease were 42h 7min, 48h 35min and 123h 42min (p=0.007). Overall mortality at 30days was 3.6%, 3.2% and 1.5% (NS) and, at 1year, it was 9.9%, 9.6% and 7.3% respectively (NS). CONCLUSION: In acute chest pain in the Municipality of Göteborg, there was a marked difference between hospitals in: 1) the percentage of hospitalised patients, 2) the percentage of ACS among hospitalised patients and 3) the delay to and rate of coronary angiography. The clinical consequences of these deviations remain to be proven.

Author

Annica Ravn-Fischer

University of Gothenburg

Thomas Karlsson

University of Gothenburg

Marco Santos

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Quality Sciences

Bo Bergman

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Quality Sciences

Per Johanson

University of Gothenburg

Johan Herlitz

University of Borås

International Journal of Cardiology

0167-5273 (ISSN) 1874-1754 (eISSN)

Vol. 166 2 440-447

Subject Categories

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems

DOI

10.1016/j.ijcard.2011.10.139

PubMed

22119114

More information

Latest update

6/20/2024