| Public awareness | Poor public knowledge of warning signs | Excellent public awareness of warning signs |
| EMS designation | Inconsistent EMS designation as highest level of emergency | EMS designation as highest level of emergency |
| Presenting symptoms | Multiple possible presenting symptoms | A few presenting symptoms |
| Complicating clinical features | Impairment of communication and perception | No impairment |
| Pain as a clinical clue | No pain | Often prominent pain and shortness of breath |
| Treatment window | Treatment window of three hours | Treatment window of at least six hours |
| Treatment goal | Recommended time from emergency department arrival to treatment: 60 minutes (new goal—rarely reached at present) | Recommended time from emergency department arrival to treatment: 30 minutes (goal frequently attained) |