Acute ST-Elevation myocardial infarction in primary hospitals: Does Tele-ECG still make a difference?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21527/2176-7114.2025.50.14911Keywords:
Infarto agudo do miocárdio, Telemedicina, Eletrocardiografia, Reperfusão miocárdica, Angioplastia Transluminal PercutâneaAbstract
Electrocardiogram Transfer Systems (TELE-ECG) may increase the survival of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, regional differences may generate disparities in this process and consequently in the final outcome of patients. Given the above, the objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of TELE-ECG on the transfer time of patients with STEMI in the state of Paraná, Brazil, based on secondary data from 76 patients transferred from a primary hospital to the reference hospital for interventional cardiology in the city of Arapongas, Paraná. Comparisons between the transfer time of municipalities with TELE-ECG (Group A) and without TELE-ECG (Group B) were performed using the Mann-Whitney test and chloropleth maps were plotted to demonstrate the route taken by the Advanced Life Support ambulances. A significant difference (p<0.05) was observed between the groups, with the mean transfer time being 323.82 ±59.00 minutes for group A and 284.71±96.04 minutes for group B. Therefore, respectively, 203.82 minutes and 164.71 minutes above the recommended. During the journey, patients often passed through municipalities with hemodynamic and/or chemical reperfusion centers before arriving at the referral hospital. It is concluded that the transfer time was shorter in municipalities without TELE-ECG, indicating that possibly the activation of the Mobile Emergency Care Service closest to the site of the event, speeding up the patient transfer process. Therefore, further studies on the factors associated with the delay in intervention and outcome of patients with STEMI are essential.
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