To analyze the differences of compliance of patients with acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in urban and rural areas, and to analyze the reasons for such differences.

A questionnaire survey and semi-structured interview were used in this study. From January 1, 2019 to May 31, 2019, patients with acute coronary syndrome who were hospitalized at the cardiovascular department of Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University were selected for investigation. A total of 230 questionnaires were sent out and 217 valid questionnaires were returned. For the content that cannot be scored in the questionnaire, a semi-structured interview method was used. The chi-square test and nonparametric rank sum test were used to compare differences in data between groups, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for compliance.

The compliance score of urban patients after PCI was higher than that of rural patients (2.57±0.73 vs 2.38±0.80, P=0.031). The knowledge on the disease had a significant impact on compliance (OR=3.593, P=0.012); the knowledge of urban residents was significantly more than that of rural residents (2.83±0.87 vs 2.55±0.92, P=0.039). By comparing the differences in gender, age, and education level of patients with different knowledge levels, we found that there was a significant difference in education level (χ²=9.979, P=0.002). Further correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between education level and knowledge (OR=3.431, P=0.002). With regard to regular follow-up, medication, and self-exercise, it was found that the rate of outpatient follow-up among urban patients was significantly better than that of rural patients (81.1% vs 58.8%, P＜0.01), but there was no significant difference in regular medication or regular self-exercise between the two groups (regular medication: χ²=0.737, P=0.391; regular self-exercise: χ²=0.391, P=0.246). By comparing the factors influencing outpatient follow-up, it was found that lack of time (48.0%) was the main reason for patients in urban areas, while inconvenience due to long distance between residential area and clinic was the main reason for rural patients (45.7%).

In patients with acute coronary syndrome after PCI, the compliance of patients in urban areas is higher than that in rural areas. The compliance of patients after PCI is affected by the knowledge on the disease; the more the knowledge of patients, the higher the compliance. The patient's educational level affects the patient's knowledge level; the higher the patient's educational level, the higher the patient's knowledge level. The patient's educational level indirectly affects the patient's compliance. The regular outpatient follow-up situation of rural patients is worse, which is affected by the patients' education level and knowledge level, and some patients are affected by economic reasons, inconvenient outpatient follow-up, and other factors.