Perception of illness symptoms in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a need to improve.

BACKGROUND Interpretation of the symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can influence the time of hospital admission and negatively affect patients' prognosis. We decided to explore illness perception and its predictors among patients with ACS. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients with ACS admitted to the cardiology department of a tertiary hospital between January and September 2011. Data were obtained from patients' medical records and telephone interviews. RESULTS One hundred and eighty-six patients with ACS (mean age 64 ± 12 years; 70% male) were included. The majority (62.6%) had no perception of ACS until informed by their doctor. Only 26% of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction had perception of cardiac disease. Among those who had perception, 82.6% were men and 58% had a previous diagnosis of ischemic heart disease (IHD). Gender and previous diagnosis of IHD were independent predictors of ACS perception, with male gender and patients with previous IHD having greater illness perception. No association was found between ACS perception and age or residence area (rural vs. urban). CONCLUSIONS The illness perception of ACS patients needs to be improved, independently of sociodemographic factors. An educational program for the general population, but particularly for women and individuals without a past history of IHD, focusing on the alert signs for ACS, may help to improve illness perception in this setting.