Factors Associated with Delayed Onset to Services among Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome in Yala Province, Southern Thailand

Background: Delayed access to services for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can worsen outcomes. This hospital-based, cross-sectional study aimed to identify factors associated with delayed access to ACS care in Yala Province, Southern Thailand. Methods: The study analyzed ACS patients from community hospitals in Yala Province, enrolled between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2021, using data from the Yala ACS Registry and HosXp Database. Among 668 patients, 289 experienced delayed access to services, while 379 did not. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were applied for analysis. Results: The incidence of delayed access to services was 43.26 % (95 %CI: 39.47-47.12). The factors significantly associated with delayed access included: education level (graduated from secondary school, AOR = 0.54, 95 %CI: 0.36 - 0.84; p-value = 0.021), having one underlying disease (AOR = 0.54, 95 %CI: 0.34 - 0.84; p-value = 0.027), moderate to heavy activity intensity (AOR = 0.60, 95 %CI: 0.38 - 0.97; p-value = 0.036), having atypical symptoms of ACS (AOR = 2.67, 95 %CI: 1.81 - 3.94; p-value Conclusion: Education level, number of underlying diseases, activity intensity, and hospital size were linked to delayed access to ACS care. Medical professionals should address these factors to enhance awareness of ACS symptoms, encourage early hospital visits, and reduce the risks of cardiac dysfunction, disability, and death. Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome, Delayed onset to services, Thailand