The impact of personality factors on delay in seeking treatment of acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

BackgroundEarly hospital arrival and rapid intervention for acute myocardial infarction is essential for a successful outcome. Several studies have been unable to identify explanatory factors that slowed decision time. The present study examines whether personality, psychosocial factors, and coping strategies might explain differences in time delay from onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction to arrival at a hospital emergency room.MethodsQuestionnaires on coping strategies, personality dimensions, and depression were completed by 323 patients ages 26 to 70 who had suffered an acute myocardial infarction. Tests measuring stress adaptation were completed by 180 of them. The patients were then categorised into three groups, based on time from onset of symptoms until arrival at hospital, and compared using logistic regression analysis and general linear models.ResultsNo correlation could be established between personality factors (i.e., extraversion, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness) or depressive symptoms and time between onset of symptoms and arrival at hospital. Nor was there any significant relationship between self-reported patient coping strategies and time delay.ConclusionsWe found no significant relationship between personality factors, coping strategies, or depression and time delays in seeking hospital after an acute myocardial infraction.

Personality factors and depression as predictors of hospital-based health care utilization following acute myocardial infarction

“…This study is part of a prospective longitudinal cohort study, the SECAMI study. 17,19 The aim of the SECAMI study was to investigate patients with MI, with focus on personality and psychological factors and their relation to prognosis, adherence to secondary prevention and treatment. The study base consisted of all patients with a diagnosis of acute MI who were admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) at the Cardiology Department, Malmö University Hospital, between July 2002 and January 2005, and who fulfilled the inclusion criteria: 1) acute MI diagnosed by the definition by the European Society of Cardiology guidelines (International Classification of Diseases 10 code I21), 22 2) had knowledge of the Swedish language, 3) living within the hospital catchment area and 4) aged between 18 and 70 years.…”

“…18 On the other hand, neither coping strategies nor personality factors were related to delay time for seeking acute hospital care when the individual had difficult chest pain. 19 Personality factors have been shown to be directly related to the risk of CHD and this might influence health care utilization as well. 20,21 To our knowledge there are no studies where personality factors have been analysed in relation to health care utilization after an MI.…”

“…18 On the other hand, neither coping strategies nor personality factors were related to delay time for seeking acute hospital care when the individual had difficult chest pain. 19…”

Severe depressive symptoms are associated with elevated endothelin-1 in younger patients with acute coronary syndrome

“…Some [41] but not all [42] studies have reported that depression is associated with a delay in seeking treatment for MI symptoms. At the same time, studies show that during MI, ET-1 is secreted in a dynamic fashion, being markedly elevated within hours following MI and peaking at 6 hours [40].…”

Alexithymia Is Associated with Delayed Treatment Seeking in Acute Myocardial Infarction

“…Thus, psychological variables such as alexithymia influencing the decision may be relevant. Unfortunately many of the findings with respect to psychosocial factors in delayed care seeking are still controversial [3]. We sought to explore psychological factors that might explain the delay in seeking care in STEMI with particular attention to alexithymia.…”