Abstract
BACKGROUND: ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is a critical condition, especially in the older population, who are at increased risk due to comorbidities and delayed diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate the impact of ethnicity on the clinical characteristics, treatment timelines, and outcomes of older patients with STEMI in southern Israel, comparing Jewish and Bedouin populations. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at Soroka University Medical Center from 2016 to 2022, including older patients (≥ 65 years) diagnosed with STEMI. Patients were grouped by ethnicity: Jews and Bedouins. Data on demographics, comorbidities, treatment timelines, and clinical outcomes were collected. Statistical analysis included a comparison analysis and a multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: 575 older patients diagnosed with STEMI were included in the study, of them 469 Jews (81.6%) and 106 Bedouins (18.4%). The mean age of the cohort was 74.35 ± 7.33 years, with no significant difference between Jews (74.56 years 7.53) and Bedouins (73.40 ± 5.99 years, p = 0.139). Bedouins had higher rates of diabetes (53.8% vs. 40.7%, p = 0.019) and smoking (40.6% vs. 27.9%, p = 0.015) and were less likely to arrive by ambulance (39.6% vs. 62.5%, p < 0.00). Bedouins also experienced longer median times from pain onset to first medical contact (126.5 min vs. 90.0 min, p = 0.006) and total ischemic time (240.0 min vs. 205.0 min, p = 0.003). Despite these differences, there were no significant differences in in-hospital mortality (13.2% Bedouins vs. 10.9% Jews, p = 0.606), 30-day mortality (14.2% Bedouins vs. 11.5% Jews, p = 0.556), or one-year mortality (21.7% Bedouins vs. 20.9% Jews, p = 0.959). Multivariable analysis confirmed no significant association between ethnicity and mortality outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the higher prevalence of comorbidities among Bedouin patients, less likely to arrive by ambulance, and experienced longer delays in receiving care, their mortality outcomes were comparable to Jewish patients. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the acute care system in southern Israel. However, further research is needed to explore potential differences in other outcomes, such as quality of life and functional recovery, to better address healthcare disparities in this population.