To examine patient delay time(PDT) in seeking treatment among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and essential hypertension and to identify factors influencing PDT. Patients with STEMI were divided into two groups based on PDT: Short PDT group(PDT ≤ 60 minutes after onset of symptoms) and Long PDT group (>60minutes after symptom onset). A questionnaire developed to assess demographic characteristics,Clinical factors and psychological factors. Paients were interviewed within 72 hours of admission to 2 hospitals. 329 consecutiveconfirmed STEMI patients(Mean age 61years; 72.5% men) with a median PDT of 90min and a prehospital delay time 170min were studied, PDT was less than 1 hours in 47.4% of patients, while more than 1 hours in 52.6%, In univariate analyses, patients with short PDT were witness onset, progress course of symptom, severe pain, death anxiety, knowing AMI as a deadly disease and its presentation, taking the symptom seriously, and “going quickly” to see the doctor . Patients with longer PDT were age≥65year, nocturnal onset, experienced their symptoms at home, gradual onset, “waited to see whether symptoms disappeared”, “worried about troubling others”, “took pain medication” and preinfarction angina. A stepwise multiple regression analysis further suggested the following independent predictors to PDT: took pain medication, wait and see, not wanting to bother anybody, preinfarction angina, age > 65 years,gradual onset, severe pain, witness onset, going to see doctor quickly, taking symptoms seriously. Age, gradual onset, witness onset, severe pain, preinfarction angina, emotional responses and inadequate coping strategies are the independent factors associated with PDT in patients with STEMI. Programs to reduce PDT must take into account of emotional responses and coping strategies of patients.