Acute coronary syndrome in relation to the occurrence of associated symptoms: A quantitative study in prehospital emergency care. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andersson, Henrik; Ullgren, Andreas; Holmberg, Mats; Karlsson, Thomas; Herlitz, Johan; Wireklint Sundström, Birgitta
• Is Part Of: International emergency nursing. Volume 33(2017)
• Page Start: 43
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Emergency nursing -- Periodicals; 616.025
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2016.12.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-599X

Abstract

Highlights: One in three patients had symptoms of dyspnoea. One in four patients had symptoms of nausea/vomiting. The risk of death within one year increased with the presence of dyspnoea. The presence of nausea/vomiting increased the likelihood of a final diagnosis of AMI. These symptoms should influence triage decisions in prehospital emergency care. Abstract: Introduction: Acute chest pain is a common symptom among prehospital emergency care patients. Therefore, it is crucial that ambulance nurses (ANs) have the ability to identify symptoms and assess patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this study is to explore the occurrence of dyspnoea and nausea and/or vomiting in the prehospital phase of a suspected ACS and the associations with patients' outcome. Methods: This study has a quantitative design based on data from hospital records and from a previous interventional study (randomised controlled trial) including five Emergency Medical Service (EMS) systems in western Sweden in the years 2008–2010. Results: In all, 1836 patients were included in the interventional study. Dyspnoea was reported in 38% and nausea and/or vomiting in 26% of patients. The risk of death within one year increased with the presence of dyspnoea. The presence of nausea and/or vomiting increased the likelihood of a final diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Conclusion: This study shows that dyspnoea, nausea and/or vomiting increase the risk of death and serious diagnosis among ACS patients. This means that dyspnoea, nausea and/or vomiting should influence the ANs' assessment and that special education in cardiovascular nursing is required.