This study highlights significant underutilization and delay of aspirin therapy as a first-line intervention for patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected acute myocardial infarction.
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Supports targeted quality improvement for timely ED aspirin in AMI; leaves open effects on outcomes.
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.
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B. Benjamin Saketkhou (1997) studied this question.
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