MISCONCEPTION OF HEART ATTACK PAIN WITH HEART BURN - HOW COMMON IS IT?

Abstract

Objective: To determined the percentage of myocardial infarction (MI)patients in Karachi who mistook their MI pain with heartburn and to studywhich socioeconomic class had the highest misconception.

Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted from june 2014 to feb 2016. Patients included in the study were divided in upper, middleand lower socioeconomic classes. Upper and middle class patients weretaken from Liaquat National Hospital while lower class patients werechosen from Civil Hospital Karachi. There were no age or genderlimitations. Informed consent was taken. Subjects diagnosed with MIwere interviewed according to a pre-designed questionnaire.

Result: Of total 375 patients , 71.5% were males . Hypertension, diabetesand smoking was present in 66.9%, 36.8% and 36% respectively.Misconception of MI pain with heartburn was reported in 59.5% cases infirst attack and 3.3% in successive attacks. This misconception in lower,middle and upper class was 66.4%, 54.4% and 57.6% respectively.Gastric reflux disease was reported in 45.9% people. Gastric refluxdiseases and epigastric pain showed association with this misconception(p<0.001). Among gastric diseases, indigestion was most commonlyseen as a positive misconception (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Misconception of MI pain with heartburn is very common,mostly prevalent in lower socio-economic class, followed by upper andmiddle classes. It was more common with gastric reflux diseases andepigastric pain. Among gastric diseases, indigestion and bloating showedsignificant association as a misconception.