Introduction : Idhayam Kappom Thittam Scheme is a significant health initiative by Government of Tamil Nadu aimed at providing immediate cardiac care to patients at primary care facilities before referral to higher facilities in-order to prevent mortality due to acute cardiac illness. The study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of those patients with symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome receiving cardiac loading doses under the scheme. It also seeks to compare clinical outcomes based on time taken for administration of loading dose and time taken to reach higher centres.
Methods : A secondary data analysis was conducted using data collected from all Health Unit Districts (HUDs) containing the line list of patients with symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) including chest pain who were referred to higher centers from Primary Health Centers (PHCs) or Health Sub-centers (HSCs) after administration of cardiac loading dose. Data was coded and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 29.
RESULTS : The study analysed 6,493 patients, reporting that 97.7% of the patients remained alive and stable after referral following treatment with a cardiac loading dose at primary care facilities. Only 2.2% of the patients expired while 0.1% died along the route. The average time taken to administer the loading dose was 13.09 minutes, and the average time taken to reach a referral centre was 46.25 minutes. Also, arrival at referral centres within 60 minutes of acute chest pain was associated with higher survival. Other patients with comorbid conditions, including diabetes and coronary artery disease, had higher mortality rates.
CONCLUSION : This study affirms the effectiveness of early cardiac intervention at primary care centres under the Idhayam Kappom Thittam scheme. Giving a cardiac loading dose before referral significantly improved survival rates of patients, especially those who were taken to a facility with advanced care within the first 60 minutes, highlighting areas of success and identifying opportunities for improvement, contributing to the enhancement of more such programs and policies in Tamil Nadu and India.