Incidence of chest pain as a symptom of acute myocardial infarction in an urgent care unit

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chest pain is one of the main reasons why individuals seek urgent and emergency services. It is a symptom that may suggest several pathologies, among which the acute coronary syndrome, which makes differential diagnosis difficult. The objective of this study was to identify the incidence of chest pain confirmed as acute myocardial infarction in an urgent care unit in the city of Joinville; and specifically to describe the epidemiological profile of patients with chest pain due to acute myocardial infarction, regarding gender, age, type of acute myocardial infarction and cardiac enzyme alterations; identify how individuals described the symptom; to recognize other factors causing chest pain and to know the incidence of chest pain related to non-cardiac causes. METHODS: Documentary study, descriptive and quantitative approach. RESULTS: The incidence of chest pain as a symptom of acute myocardial infarction corresponded to 1% of the sample, affecting males. Several other causes were pointed out stemmed from the international code of diseases to seek care for this complaint. CONCLUSION: The study evidenced the relevance of this complaint in emergency and urgent care units and the need to recognize the clinical manifestations and acute myocardial infarction screening for differential diagnosis.