"Short-term Outcome of Patients From Rural Versus Urban Communities Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction"

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a life-threatening condition that requires urgent reperfusion therapy, with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) being the gold standard of care. While PCI significantly reduces complications and improves survival, access to this intervention remains unequal, particularly between rural and urban populations

According to the latest census definitions, a rural area is characterized by:A population of fewer than 5,000,A population density of less than 400 persons per square kilometer,And more than 25% of the male working population engaged in agriculture.

Rural patients often experience delayed diagnosis, limited access to PCI-capable centers, and prolonged ischemic times. These factors contribute to poorer clinical outcomes, including higher rates of reinfarction, heart failure, and mortality. In contrast, urban residents typically have faster access to specialized cardiac care and more efficient treatment pathways.

In Upper Egypt, this urban-rural gap is particularly pronounced, with rural patients facing substantial logistical and systemic challenges in receiving timely PCI. Although efforts have been made to expand PCI access nationwide, there remains a lack of localized data comparing short-term outcomes-particularly major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)-between rural and urban STEMI patients.