Advancing acute MI care in densely populated low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): innovative stand-alone chest pain units for expedited triage and timely management.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and its adverse effects on health and mortality remain high in densely populated low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To address the issue of densely populated areas and timely access to primary PCI, chest pain units (CPUs) were deployed at strategic locations in Karachi, with a populace of over 23 million people. This study describes the results of this initiative in expediting MI care.

Methods

Between 2017 and 2023, 18 CPUs, each with a cardiologist, technician, ECG machine, crash cart and an ambulance were placed in high density areas.

Findings

A total of 915,564 patients were seen at 18 CPUs over the study period. 692,444 (75.6%) were categorized as non-cardiac and subsequently discharged. 223,120 (24.6%)

SUBMITTER: Qamar N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11474207 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature