Symptoms experienced by patients with acute myocardial infarction that the triage nurses should know in the emergency department: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Vascular and heart disease present a big problem in public health society. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which belongs under acute coronary syndromes, is one of the most common diseases and biggest causes of early death in developed countries. Symptoms in patients with myocardial infarction vary between typical and atypical symptoms. This review aims to identify different AMI symptoms of patients who seek medical attention in the emergency department (ED). Methods: A systematic review of the literature in CINAHL, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and SAGE was conducted to identify studies on detected symptoms in patients with myocardial infarction over 18 years in the ED. The search was limited to studies on this topic published up to December 2021. The data analysis was based on thematic analysis. Results: Out of 2,814 studies retrieved, 11 studies were included. The data analysis identified one main theme: clinical symptoms and three subcategories. Conclusion: The triage nurses need to pay attention to cardiovascular symptoms, such as chest pain, the most common symptom. Their focus also needs to be redirected to epigastric pain and cold sweating, which are abdominal and systemic symptoms, and anxiety and nausea/vomiting in patients with diabetes. Impact: AMI is one of the most common diseases and causes of early death in developed countries. The literature lacks knowledge about the different symptoms of AMI, which the triage nurses must be careful about. The knowledge and rapid identification of myocardial infarction helps triage nurses provide the best outcomes. ©2023 the author(s), published by De Gruyter. All rights reserved.