Longer pre-hospital delay in first myocardial infarction among patients with diabetes : an analysis of 4266 patients in the Northern Sweden MONICA Study

Background: Reperfusion therapy reduces both morbidity and mortality in myocardial infarction, but the effectiveness depends on how fast the patient receives treatment. Despite the time-dependent effectiveness of reperfusion therapy, many patients with myocardial infarction have delays in seeking medical care. The aim of this study was to describe pre-hospital delay in a first myocardial infarction among men and women with and without diabetes and to describe the association between pre-hospital delay time and diabetes, sex, age, symptoms and size of residential area as a proxy for distance to hospital. Methods: This population based study was based on data from 4266 people aged 25-74 years, with a first myocardial infarction registered in the Northern Sweden MONICA myocardial infarction registry between 2000 and 2008. Results: The proportion of patients with delay times >= 2 h was 64% for patients with diabetes and 58% for patients without diabetes. There was no difference in delay time >= 2 h between men and women with diabetes. Diabetes, older age and living in a town or rural areas were factors associated with pre-hospital delay times >= 2 h. Atypical symptoms were not a predictor for pre-hospital delay times >= 2 h, OR 0.59 (0.47; 0.75). Conclusions: A higher proportion of patients with diabetes have longer pre-hospital delay in myocardial infarction than patients without diabetes. There are no differences in pre-hospital delay between men and women with diabetes. The largest risk difference for pre-hospital delay >= 2 h is between women with and without diabetes. Diabetes, older age and living in a town or rural area are predictors for pre-hospital delay >= 2 h