Impact of living alone on the care and outcomes of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to investigate the association between living alone at home and the care and outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).


METHODS
In total, 557 patients with STEMI underwent pPCI between January 2008 and September 2017. Among them, we included 208 patients who were transferred directly by emergency medical services from their home to the hospital.


RESULTS
Patients were classified into two groups, namely living alone (n = 45) and living with others (n = 163). There were no significant differences in age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors between the two groups. The onset-to-door (OTD) and onset-to-balloon times were significantly shorter in patients living with others than in those living alone (106.4 vs. 190.8 min, p < 0.01 and 152.3 vs. 236.9 min; p < 0.01, respectively). The left ventricular ejection fraction after pPCI was significantly lower in patients living alone than in those living with others (48.7 % vs. 54.9 %, p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that living alone and the incidence of congestive heart failure were independent predictors of a longer OTD time.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients living alone were less likely to arrive early at the hospital than those living with others. A greater understanding of the inter-relationships among living alone, access to acute cardiac care, and outcomes is essential.
['Ohama|Ayumi|A|', 'Mizuguchi|Yukio|Y|', 'Hashimoto|Sho|S|', 'Yamada|Takeshi|T|', 'Taniguchi|Norimasa|N|', 'Nakajima|Shunsuke|S|', 'Hata|Tetsuya|T|', 'Takahashi|Akihiko|A|']
D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D004632:Emergency Medical Services D005260:Female D006333:Heart Failure D006801:Humans D057187:Independent Living D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention D000072657:ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction D013997:Time Factors D016896:Treatment Outcome D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction Primary percutaneous coronary intervention Family characteristics Onset-to-door time Social isolation