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Emergency Department Use of Aspirin in Patients with Possible Acute Myocardial Infarction
- B. Benjamin Saketkhou, MD;
- Frank J. Conte, MD;
- Maryanne Noris, MD;
- Peter Tilkemeier, MD;
- Gregory Miller, MD;
- Daniel E. Forman, MD;
- Lauralyn Cannistra, MD;
- Jeffrey Leavitt, MD;
- Satish C. Sharma, MD;
- Carol Garber, PhD; and
- Alfred F. Parisi, MD
- From the Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, Rhode Island; and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Roger Williams Medical Center, The Miriam Hospital, and Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. Acknowledgments: The authors thank Suzanne Bailey and Teresa Gadouas for their excellent help with manuscript preparation and Elizabeth Coccio, RN, and Katherine Hutchinson, RN, for technical assistance. Requests for Reprints: Alfred F. Parisi, MD, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906. Current Author Addresses: Dr. Saketkhou: 22245 Alyssum Way, Boca Raton, FL 33433.
Abstract
Background: Efforts have been made to improve the suboptimal use of aspirin after hospitalization.
Objective: To assess the frequency and timing of aspirin administration in emergency department patients with possible myocardial infarction.
Design: Retrospective record review.
Setting: Emergency departments of four hospitals affiliated with the same university.
Patients: All patients who were admitted to the four hospitals in 1994 for evaluation and treatment of suspected acute myocardial infarction.
Measurements: The frequency and timing of aspirin administration and the definitive diagnosis established before discharge from the hospital.
Results: Aspirin was not given to 253 of 463 emergency department patients (55%) who had a definitive diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Seventy-eight percent of patients who did receive aspirin received it more than 30 minutes after arrival in the emergency department.
Conclusion: Aspirin therapy is underutilized as the first intervention in patients who are admitted with suspected myocardial infarction.
- Copyright ©2004 by the American College of Physicians
