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J Korean Acad Nurs.  2015 Jun;45(3):378-387. 10.4040/jkan.2015.45.3.378.

Symptom Clusters in Korean Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Affiliations
  • 1Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. leejia@khu.ac.kr
  • 3East-West Nursing Research Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) leads to death if the patient does not receive emergency treatment. Thus it is very important to recognize the symptoms in the early stage. The purpose of this study was to identify clusters of symptoms that represent AMI in Koreans.
METHODS
The study used a retrospective, descriptive design with secondary data analysis. Data were abstracted from 725 medical records of AMI patients admitted from June 1, 2006 to August 15, 2014 at a university hospital.
RESULTS
Analysis of the AMI symptoms revealed five symptom clusters; Cluster 1 (n=140): middle chest pain (100%), shortness of breath, and cold sweating, Cluster 2 (n=256): substernal pain (100%), cold sweating, and shortness of breath, Cluster 3 (n=47): substernal pain (95.7%), left arm pain, shortness of breath, cold sweating, left shoulder pain, right arm pain, and the lower neck pain, Cluster 4 (n=212): shortness of breath (28.3%), left chest pain, and upper abdominal pain, and Cluster 5 (n=70): cold sweating (100%), left chest pain, shortness of breath, left shoulder pain, and upper abdominal pain. Length of hospital stay and mortality rate were significantly different according to symptom clusters (F=2.52, p=.040; F=3.62, p=.006, respectively).
CONCLUSION
Symptom clusters of AMI from this study can be used for AMI patients in order to recognize their symptoms at an early stage. The study findings should be considered when developing educational prevention programs for Koreans with AMI.

Keyword

Coronary artery; Disease; Symptom

MeSH Terms

Acute Disease
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Female
Humans
Length of Stay
Magnetic Resonance Angiography
Male
Middle Aged
Myocardial Infarction/mortality/*pathology
Republic of Korea
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate
Syndrome
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