Sex differences in rural prehospital ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction care
When managing suspected STEMI in a rural setting, be mindful of potential sex-based delays; women appeared to have longer total EMS and door-to-balloon times here. Consider proactively assessing for exertional chest pain history and thoroughly reviewing comorbidities, as these factors seemed associated with poorer outcomes regardless of sex. This suggests that standard protocols might need adaptation to account for potentially missed or delayed recognition in female patients.
This cohort study analyzing 365 STEMI patients in rural North Carolina highlights notable sex disparities in timely reperfusion care. The authors found that women were significantly less likely to achieve PCI within the recommended 90-minute window compared to men, observing longer total EMS times and door-to-balloon intervals for females. Interestingly, the analysis further suggested that even among women, those presenting without exertional chest pain or with existing comorbidities faced reduced odds of timely reperfusion. These findings point toward systemic or clinical factors unique to female STEMI presentation in a rural setting that may delay definitive care.