{
  "abstract": "Background Women in the UK experience delays in recognising and acting on heart attack symptoms, contributing to poorer outcomes. Public messaging emphasises calling 999 immediately for chest pain, yet evidence suggests that gendered symptom interpretation and sociocultural expectations may influence decision-making. This study explores women’s experiences of heart attack symptoms and the factors affecting their decision to seek emergency care.Methods A digital survey was circulated via social media between March and April 2025. Seventy participants met inclusion criteria (women aged ≥18, UK residents, reporting prior heart attack symptoms or receiving a clinical diagnosis). The survey used a mixed-methods design, gathering demographic data, symptom experiences, perceptions of urgency, and views on gender differences in accessing emergency care. Quantitative data were summarised descriptively; qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis.Results Of 70 participants, 52 reported experiencing heart attack symptoms. Among these, 79% (n=41) delayed calling 999. Key reasons included: symptoms not perceived as severe or ‘urgent enough’ (58.6%); fear or anxiety (42.9%); uncertainty about symptoms (29.9%); competing responsibilities (29.9%); and belief that symptoms may resolve independently (4.3%). Several participants described minimising symptoms to avoid ‘burdening’ NHS services. Many reported previous experiences of clinical dismissal or ‘medical gaslighting,’ which contributed to hesitancy when symptoms recurred.Participants widely believed that women take longer than men to seek emergency care (60%). Thematic analysis revealed factors shaping this perception: internalised minimisation of symptoms; prioritising caregiving roles; fear of wasting NHS resources; dismissal of women’s pain by healthcare professionals; and the association of heart attacks with older men rather than women. Most participants felt that better public awareness messaging about atypical symptoms and reassurance that emergency services should be used without guilt could encourage earlier 999 calls.Conclusion Women frequently delay calling 999 due to symptom misinterpretation, sociocultural expectations, and prior negative healthcare experiences. These findings suggest a need for gender-informed public health campaigns emphasising the variability of heart attack presentations, validating women’s symptoms, and addressing fear of overusing emergency services. Improving recognition and response behaviours may reduce delays and improve outcomes for women experiencing myocardial infarction.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Mahrin Ahmed"
    }
  ],
  "title": "23 Women’s experience of heart attack symptoms and decision to Call 999",
  "uid": "a7f4837e-be22-5372-8055-7ae180b42410"
}