Causes for Ambulance Calling Delays in Patients with Stroke
https://doi.org/10.52420/umj.24.1.93
EDN: QJMBUN
Abstract
Introduction. Delay in calling an ambulance is one of the main factors for late admission of a stroke patient to the hospital. It is important to define the target groups for information campaigns, as well as the main causes for ambulance calling delay.
The aim of the study — to determine factors associated with the prolonged time of ambulance calling in stroke patients in Moscow for target information materials development.
Materials and methods. We prospectively included 152 patients with stroke. Patients or their accompanying persons were surveyed to obtain the information about the circumstances of calling the ambulance.
Results. In 89.5 % of cases, the ambulance was called by people who found the patient with a stroke or were nearby at the time of stroke onset. The longest time between the symptoms detection and the ambulance call were observed when the call was made by the patient him/herself (10.00 [3.75; 23.88] h). The fastest calls were from colleagues at work or passers-by in public places (11 [5; 20] min). Time delay inversely correlated with NIHSS score (rS = –303; p < 0.0005). In patients with NIHSS ≤5, the time from symptom detection to ambulance calling was 1,75 [0,25; 11,00] h, while in patients with NIHSS >5 this time was 0,20 [0,08; 3,00] h (p < 0.001).
Conclusion. The ambulance was most often called by witnesses of stroke onset, and not by the patient him/herself. One of the key factors associated with the prolonged time interval of calling an ambulance was the severity of the neurological deficit.
About the Authors
K. V. Anisimov
I. V. Davydovsky City Clinical Hospital;
Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnology
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
Kirill V. Anisimov — Candidate of Sciences (Medicine), Endovascular Radiologist;
Neurologist, Researcher
Moscow
Competing Interests:
The authors declare the absence of obvious or potential conflicts of interest.
S. S. Galkin
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
Sergey S. Galkin — Candidate of Sciences (Medicine), Assistant of the Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics, Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
Moscow
Competing Interests:
The authors declare the absence of obvious or potential conflicts of interest.
A. V. Anisimova
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
Anastasia V. Anisimova — Doctor of Sciences (Medicine), Professor, Professor of the Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics, Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
Moscow
Competing Interests:
The authors declare the absence of obvious or potential conflicts of interest.
N. A. Shamalov
Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnology
Russian Federation
Competing Interests:
Russian Federation
Nikolay A. Shamalov — Doctor of Sciences (Medicine), Professor, Director of the Institute of Cerebrovascular Pathology and Stroke
Moscow
Competing Interests:
The authors declare the absence of obvious or potential conflicts of interest.
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For citations:
Anisimov KV, Galkin SS, Anisimova AV, Shamalov NA. Causes for Ambulance Calling Delays in Patients with Stroke. Ural Medical Journal. 2025;24(1):93–107. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.52420/umj.24.1.93. EDN: QJMBUN
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