Prevalence of Social Media Use in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality globally, with health literacy playing a crucial role in predicting mortality rates. Social media has emerged as an effective tool for disseminating information and promoting public health. This study aimed to assess social media usage among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods: This prospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted between July ۲۰۲۱ and August ۲۰۲۳ in Tehran, IRAN. Patients of both genders, over ۲۰ years of age, who experienced STEMI consecutively were included in the study. Data were obtained using questionnaires after obtaining permission.Results: There were ۲۲۱ patients, ۴۴.۳% (۹۸/۲۲۱) of patients at the Taleghani Hospital and ۵۵.۷% (۱۲۳/۲۲۱) at the Shahid Modarres Hospital. The mean age of patients was ۵۷.۳۴ ± ۱۱.۳۰, and ۸۷.۳% of patients were male. Totally, ۹۴.۵% (۲۰۹/۲۲۱) had cell phones, ۷۱.۰% (۱۵۷/۲۲۱) had smartphones, and ۶۵.۶% (۱۴۵/۲۲۱) used social networks. WhatsApp was the most commonly used social network, ۹۱.۰% (۱۳۲/۱۴۵). Patients with higher education had a significantly higher proportion of using email or smartphones. Also, younger patients had a higher proportion of email or smartphone usage.Conclusions: Most patients diagnosed with STEMI own smartphones and frequently use social networks. WhatsApp is the most commonly used social network platform. However, older individuals or those with lower literacy tend to use social networks less frequently.

Keywords:

ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction , Smartphone , Mobile Applications , Social Media , social networking