Door-to-ECG time in patients with chest pain presenting to the ED.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2006

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe time to electrocardiogram (ECG) acquisition, identify factors associated with timely acquisition, and evaluate the influence of time to ECG on adverse clinical outcomes.

METHODS: We measured the door-to-ECG time for emergency department patients enrolled in prospective chest pain registry. Clinical outcomes were defined as occurrence of myocardial infarction or death within 30 days of the visit.

RESULTS: Among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 34% and 40.9% of patients with non-ST-elevation ACS and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), respectively, had an ECG performed within 10 minutes of arrival. A delay in ECG acquisition was only associated with an increase risk of clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI at 30 days (odds ratio, 3.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-14.72; P = .04).

CONCLUSION: Approximately one third of patients with ACS received an ECG within 10 minutes. A prolonged door-to-ECG time was associated with an increased risk of clinical outcomes only in patients with STEMI.

Volume

24

Issue

1

First Page

1

Last Page

7

ISSN

0735-6757

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

16338501

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

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