BackgroundCardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Vietnam. We conducted a pilot study of Hanoi residents hospitalized with a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the Vietnam National Heart Institute in Hanoi for purposes of describing the prevalence of cardiovascular (CVD) and non-CVD comorbidities and their impact on hospital management, in-hospital clinical complications, and short-term mortality in these patients.MethodsThe study population consisted of 302 Hanoi residents hospitalized with a first AMI at the largest tertiary care medical center in Hanoi in 2010.ResultsThe average age of study patients was 66 years and one third were women. The proportions of patients with none, any 1, and ≥ 2 CVD comorbidities were 34%, 42%, and 24%, respectively. Among the CVD comorbidities, hypertension was the most commonly reported (59%). There were decreasing trends in the proportion of patients who were treated with effective cardiac medications and coronary interventions as the number of CVD comorbidities increased. Patients with multiple CVD comorbidities tended to develop acute clinical complications and die at higher rates during hospitalization compared with patients with no CVD comorbidities (Odds Ratio: 1.40; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.40–4.84).ConclusionsOur data suggest that patients with multiple cardiac comorbidities tended to experience high in-hospital death rates in the setting of AMI. Full-scale surveillance of Hanoi residents hospitalized with AMI at all Hanoi hospitals is needed to confirm these findings. Effective strategies to manage Vietnamese patients hospitalized with AMI who have multiple comorbidities are warranted to improve their short-term prognosis.

BackgroundCardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Vietnam. We conducted a pilot study of Hanoi residents hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the Vietnam National Heart Institute in Hanoi. The objectives of this observational study were to examine sex differences in clinical characteristics, hospital management, in-hospital clinical complications, and mortality in patients hospitalized with an initial AMI.MethodsThe study population consisted of 302 Hanoi residents hospitalized with a first AMI at the largest tertiary care medical center in Hanoi in 2010.ResultsThe average age of study patients was 66 years and one third were women. Women were older (70 vs. 64 years) and were more likely than men to have had hyperlipidemia previously diagnosed (10% vs. 2%). During hospitalization, women were less likely to have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with men (57% vs. 74%), and women were more likely to have developed heart failure compared with men (19% vs. 10%). Women experienced higher in-hospital case-fatality rates (CFRs) than men (13% vs. 4%) and these differences were attenuated after adjustment for age and history of hyperlipidemia (OR: 2.64; 95% CI: 1.01, 6.89), and receipt of PCI during hospitalization (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 0.77, 5.09).ConclusionsOur pilot data suggest that among patients hospitalized with a first AMI in Hanoi, women experienced higher in-hospital CFRs than men. Full-scale surveillance of all Hanoi residents hospitalized with AMI at all Hanoi medical centers is needed to confirm these findings. More targeted and timely educational and treatment approaches for women appear warranted.

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Background: Administration of coronary reperfusion therapy to patients with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) within the proper timeframe is essential in avoiding clinical complications and death. However, the extent of pre-hospital delay is unexplored in Vietnam. This report aims to describe the duration of pre-hospital delay of Hanoi residents hospitalized with a first AMI at the Vietnam National Heart Institute .   Methods: A total of 103 Hanoi residents hospitalized at the largest tertiary care medical center in the city for first AMI, who have information on  prehospital delay was included in this report. Results: One third of the study sample was women and mean age was 66 years. The mean and median pre-hospital delay duration were 14.9 hours and 4.8 hours, respectively. The proportion of patients who delayed <6 , 6-<12, and ≥ 12 hours were 45%, 13%, and 42%, respectively. Conclusions: Our data shows that a prolonged pre-hospital delay is often observed in patients with a first AMI in Vietnam. In order to confirm these preliminary descriptive findings, a full-scale investigation of all Hanoi residents hospitalized with first AMI is needed. Increasing public awareness about AMI treatment is vital in encouraging patients to seek medical care timely after experiencing AMI symptoms such that received treatment is most effective.

Background: Administration of coronary reperfusion therapy to patients with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) within the proper timeframe is essential in avoiding clinical complications and death. However, the extent of pre-hospital delay is unexplored in Vietnam. This report aims to describe the duration of pre-hospital delay of Hanoi residents hospitalized with a first AMI at the Vietnam National Heart Institute .   Methods: A total of 103 Hanoi residents hospitalized at the largest tertiary care medical center in the city for first AMI, who have information on  prehospital delay was included in this report. Results: One third of the study sample was women and mean age was 66 years. The mean and median pre-hospital delay duration were 14.9 hours and 4.8 hours, respectively. The proportion of patients who delayed <6 , 6-<12, and ≥ 12 hours were 45%, 13%, and 42%, respectively. Conclusions: Our data shows that a prolonged pre-hospital delay is often observed in patients with a first AMI in Vietnam. In order to confirm these preliminary descriptive findings, a full-scale investigation of all Hanoi residents hospitalized with first AMI is needed. Increasing public awareness about AMI treatment is vital in encouraging patients to seek medical care timely after experiencing AMI symptoms such that received treatment is most effective.