Other Titles

Care issues with the cardiac and diabetic patient

Abstract

Session presented on Friday, July 25, 2014:

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the differences in symptom presentation between diabetic and non-diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to examine the impact of diabetes on symptom presentation in AMI patients.

Methods: A consecutive sample of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of AMI was recruited from the cardiac units of three regional hospitals in Hong Kong. Data collection was conducted through face-to-face interview. The validated Chinese version of the Symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndromes Inventory (SACSI-C) was used for symptom assessment.

Results: A total sample of 397 patients was recruited, with the mean age of 63.3 - 12.7 years. Diabetes (32%) was the second most prevalent comorbidity in the sample. Diabetic patients were less likely to present with chest pain (p<0.0001) and sweating (p=0.001). Conversely, they were more likely to present with shortness of breath (p=0.001) and difficulty in breathing (p=0.003) than the non-diabetic patients. Overall, the diabetic patients were more likely to present with atypical AMI symptoms (p<0.0001). The result of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes was an independent predictor of atypical symptom presentation in AMI patients, with an odds ratio of 2.37 (95% confidence interval: 1.36-4.12; p=0.002).

Conclusion: In summary, diabetic patients have a 2.4-fold increased risk for atypical symptom presentation than that of non-diabetic patients. Health professionals should remain vigilant at recognizing atypical AMI presentation in diabetic patients. A tailor-made educative intervention should be directed to them.

Author Details

Polly W. C. Li, MSc (Cardiology), BNurs, RN; Doris S. F. Yu, PhD, BSc (Nursing Studies), RN; Diana T. F. Lee, PhD, MSc, PRD (HCE), RM, RN, RTN

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Acute Myocardial Infarction, Diabetes Mellitus, Symptom Presentation

Conference Name

25th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Hong Kong

Conference Year

2014

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Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

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Does diabetes mellitus make a difference in symptom presentation of patients with acute myocardial infarction?

Hong Kong

Session presented on Friday, July 25, 2014:

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the differences in symptom presentation between diabetic and non-diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to examine the impact of diabetes on symptom presentation in AMI patients.

Methods: A consecutive sample of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of AMI was recruited from the cardiac units of three regional hospitals in Hong Kong. Data collection was conducted through face-to-face interview. The validated Chinese version of the Symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndromes Inventory (SACSI-C) was used for symptom assessment.

Results: A total sample of 397 patients was recruited, with the mean age of 63.3 - 12.7 years. Diabetes (32%) was the second most prevalent comorbidity in the sample. Diabetic patients were less likely to present with chest pain (p<0.0001) and sweating (p=0.001). Conversely, they were more likely to present with shortness of breath (p=0.001) and difficulty in breathing (p=0.003) than the non-diabetic patients. Overall, the diabetic patients were more likely to present with atypical AMI symptoms (p<0.0001). The result of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes was an independent predictor of atypical symptom presentation in AMI patients, with an odds ratio of 2.37 (95% confidence interval: 1.36-4.12; p=0.002).

Conclusion: In summary, diabetic patients have a 2.4-fold increased risk for atypical symptom presentation than that of non-diabetic patients. Health professionals should remain vigilant at recognizing atypical AMI presentation in diabetic patients. A tailor-made educative intervention should be directed to them.