Factors Related to Delay in Seeking Medical Care Among Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction in Dhaka

Abstract

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been considered the leading cause of death and disability all over the globe where Bangladesh is not an exception. Early medical attention seeking behavior is decisive for saving valuable lives and reducing further complications. Objectives: Current research aimed to identify the factors related to delay in seeking medical care among AMI sufferers. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out by face-to-face interview from January 2017 to June 2018. A total of 120 patients were conveniently recruited from Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital and Research Institute, which is a tertiary level hospital in Dhaka. Delay in medical care seeking time was investigated using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Data were evaluated by Statistical Package for the Social Science version 20 and the relationship was assessed by using t-test. Results: Respondents who lived in the rural area (P = 0.01), whose pain duration less than 6 hours (P = 0.01) and radiation of pain (P = 0.02), took self-treatment (P = 0.04), misinterpretation of symptoms (P = 0.04), living long distance (P = 0.01), lack of suitable transport (P = 0.04), and faced traffic jam (P = 0.00) showed significantly higher delay in seeking medical care. Conclusions: It is necessary to develop a strategy for reducing delay in medical care seeking in patients with AMI to reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Proper education regarding major cardiovascular events could be an effective option.