An observational study in Myocardial Infarction (MI), sponsored by Al-Nahrain University. Recruiting at 1 site in Iraq. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-17.
Sponsored by Al-Nahrain University · Observational
The goal of this prospective observational study is to investigate the impact of pre-hospital and hospital delays on the outcomes of myocardial infarction (MI) patients admitted to Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital, Baghdad.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
How do pre-hospital delays (e.g., patient transport and first medical contact) affect clinical outcomes such as mortality, complication rates, and recovery time in MI patients? What is the influence of hospital-related delays (e.g., time to intervention or reperfusion therapy) on the prognosis of MI patients?
Participants will:
Be monitored for the time elapsed from symptom onset to first medical contact and subsequent time intervals during hospital care.
Have their clinical outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and post-intervention complications, recorded and analyzed.
Myocardial infarction (MI) continues to be one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality globally, with outcomes highly dependent on the timeliness of treatment. Early reperfusion therapy is crucial for reducing mortality and minimizing long-term complications such as heart failure and arrhythmias. The impact of delayed treatment, both in the pre-hospital and hospital phases, is well documented, with longer delays significantly worsening clinical outcomes, particularly in terms of mortality and myocardial damage. Meanwhile, recent studies indicate that time delays to care among patients with STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) exist universally, showing a worse situation in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.
Hospital and pre-hospital delays are critical determinants of MI outcomes. Factors contributing to pre-hospital delays include patient-related issues, such as lack of recognition of symptoms, misinterpretation of their severity, and delays in decision-making, as well as external factors like geographical barriers to healthcare facilities and limited access to emergency medical services. Based on these findings, some national or regional programs have been initiated to reduce the delays by targeting at controlling these factors through educational campaigns, implementation of prehospital ECG, establishing regional collaborative networks, and these actions have turned out to be effective.
Additional contributing factors are also evident, including administrative inefficiencies, delays in diagnosis, and challenges in accessing specialized care such as percutaneous coronary intervention or thrombolysis. Evidence suggests that prolonged hospital delays increase the risk of adverse clinical outcomes, including higher rates of mortality and heart failure.
Previous studies have highlighted the significant influence of time on patient recovery. Research has shown that early reperfusion therapy, such as thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention, can significantly improve patient survival and reduce the risk of long-term complications. However, despite extensive global studies, there is limited research that focuses on the unique delays encountered in Middle Eastern and low-resource settings like Iraq. The healthcare challenges in these regions, including access to timely emergency services and hospital readiness, require further investigation to provide actionable insights.
In Iraq, particularly in Baghdad, the impact of pre-hospital and hospital delays on MI outcomes remains underexplored. While cardiovascular diseases, including MI, are prevalent, the healthcare system faces significant challenges, such as limited public awareness, inadequate pre-hospital care, and hospital system constraints. These factors may contribute to substantial delays in MI treatment, but their specific impact on patient outcomes has not been well studied. This research aims to fill this gap by conducting a prospective observational study at Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, assessing the extent of pre-hospital and hospital delays in the management of MI and their correlation with clinical outcomes. The study seeks to identify critical delays and propose recommendations for improving the timeliness of MI care in Iraq.
2,270 studies on the registry are indexed under Myocardial Infarction; 371 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 200 is below the median of 568 across 814 observational studies indexed under Myocardial Infarction.
Browse Myocardial Infarction studies →Al-Nahrain University is the lead sponsor of 26 studies on the registry; 20 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
The study population will consist of adult patients aged 18 years and older who are diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (MI), either STEMI or NSTEMI, confirmed by clinical symptoms, electrocardiogram (ECG), and elevated cardiac biomarkers (e.g., troponin). Participants will be admitted to Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital within 12 hours of symptom onset and will undergo reperfusion therapy, such as thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
In-hospital Mortality
percentage of patients who die during hospitalization following myocardial infarction.
Time frame: Up to discharge, an average of 7 days
Time-to-Reperfusion Therapy
The time (in minutes) from symptom onset to the initiation of reperfusion therapy (e.g., thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention).
Time frame: Pre-Hospital Delay: Average of 4 hours from symptom onset to first medical contact. Hospital Delay: Average of 2 hours from hospital admission to the initiation of reperfusion therapy.
Length of Hospital Stay
The total duration of a patient's stay in the hospital, measured from the date of admission to the date of discharge.
Time frame: Up to discharge, an average of 7 days
Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE)
Includes recurrent myocardial infarction, heart failure, and arrhythmias occurring during hospitalization.
Time frame: Up to discharge, an average of 7 days
Complication Rate
The proportion of patients developing complications related to delays in treatment (e.g., cardiogenic shock, ventricular rupture).
Time frame: Up to discharge, an average of 7 days
Plan to share: No
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Al-Nahrain University