The presenting symptoms as a predictor of the hospital arrival time intervals of patients with acute coronary syndrome

The hospital arrival time intervals of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients is calculated from the onset of pain to arriving at the hospital. Various factors may affect the hospital arrival time interval including the presentation of symptoms. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between the variables of presenting symptoms and the hospital arrival time intervals among ACS patients at Karsa Husada Batu Hospital and Dr. Soepraoen hospital in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. The research method employed was an analytical observation with a cross-sectional approach. Using a purposive sampling technique, a total sample of 26 ACS patients were recruited. The study was conducted between February and May 2018 (3 months). The significance of the association was set up as having a p-value of less than 0.05. From the data analysis, we found that the presenting symptom variables of provocation, radiation, severity, accompanying symptoms and time were significantly associated with the hospital arrival time interval. Quality and location were not significantly associated with the hospital arrival time interval. ACS patients who experienced pain symptoms with triggers, felt the pain spreading, had a higher level of severity, had accompanying symptoms, and felt continuous pain might have a shorter hospital arrival time interval than their counterparts. Presenting symptoms is a crucial factor to reduce the hospital arrival time interval. Therefore, patients and their families should recognise all aspects of the ACS symptoms.