Public recognition of major signs and symptoms of heart attack: seventeen states and the US Virgin Islands, 2001

Greenlund, Kurt J; Keenan, Nora L; Giles, Wayne H; Zheng, Zhi Jie; Neff, Linda J; Croft, Janet B; Mensah, George A

doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2003.12.036

« Previous Next »American Heart Journal
Volume 147, Issue 6 , Pages 1010-1016, June 2004

Public recognition of major signs and symptoms of heart attack: seventeen states and the US Virgin Islands, 2001

Kurt J Greenlund, PhD
- Cardiovascular Health Branch, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, USA
- Reprint requests: Kurt J. Greenlund, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Mailstop K-47, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
Nora L Keenan, PhD
- Cardiovascular Health Branch, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, USA
Wayne H Giles, MD
- Cardiovascular Health Branch, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, USA
Zhi Jie Zheng, MD
- Cardiovascular Health Branch, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, USA
Linda J Neff, PhD
- Cardiovascular Health Branch, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, USA
Janet B Croft, PhD
- Cardiovascular Health Branch, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, USA
George A Mensah, MD
- Cardiovascular Health Branch, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, USA

Received 20 May 2003; accepted 2 December 2003.

Abstract

Background

Timely access to emergency cardiac care and survival is partly dependent on early recognition of heart attack symptoms and immediate action by calling emergency services. We assessed public recognition of major heart attack symptoms and knowledge to call 9-1-1 for an acute event.

Methods

Data are from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a state-based telephone survey. Participants (n = 61,018) in 17 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands indicated whether the following were heart attack symptoms: pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back; feeling weak, lightheaded, faint; chest pain or discomfort; sudden trouble seeing in 1 or both eyes (false symptom); pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulder; shortness of breath. Participants also indicated their first action if someone was having a heart attack.

Results

Most persons (95%) recognized chest pain as a heart attack symptom. However, only 11% correctly classified all symptoms and knew to call 9-1-1 when someone was having a heart attack. Symptom recognition and the need to call 9-1-1 was lower among men than women, persons of various ethnic groups than whites, younger and older persons than middle-aged persons, and persons with less education. Persons with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, or prior heart attack or stroke were not appreciably more likely to recognize heart attack symptoms than were persons without these conditions.

Conclusions

Public health efforts are needed to increase recognition of the major heart attack symptoms in both the general public and groups at high risk for an acute event.