Clinical features and prognosis of patients with acute non-specific chest pain in emergency and cardiology departments after the introduction of high-sensitivity troponins: a prospective cohort study. Issue 12 (22nd December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ilangkovan, Nivethitha; Mickley, Hans; Diederichsen, Axel; Lassen, Annmarie; Sørensen, Thomas L; Sheta, Hussam Mahmoud; Stæhr, Peter B; Mogensen, Christian Backer
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 7:Issue 12(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-12-22
• Subjects: myocardial infarction -- ischaemic heart disease -- coronary heart disease; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018636
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To determine the incidence of clinical, cardiac-related endpoints and mortality among patients presenting to an emergency or cardiology department with non-specific chest pain (NSCP), and who receive testing with a high-sensitivity troponin. A second objective was to identify risk factors for the above-noted endpoints during 12 months of follow-up. Design: A prospective multicentre study. Setting: Emergency and cardiology departments in Southern Denmark. Subjects: The study enrolled 1027 patients who were assessed for acute chest pain in an emergency or cardiology department, and in whom a myocardial infarction or another obvious reason for chest pain had been ruled out. Patients were enrolled from September 2014 to June 2015 and followed for 1 year. Main outcome measures: Clinical, cardiac-related endpoints (cardiac-related death, acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina and coronary revascularisation) and all-cause mortality. Results: Over a period of 1 year, cardiac-related endpoints were found in 19 patients (1.9%): 0 patients experienced cardiac-related death, 2 (0.2%) had myocardial infarction, 4 (0.4%) had unstable angina pectoris and 17 (1.7%) underwent coronary revascularisation. All-cause mortality was observed in seven patients (0.7%). When compared with the general population, the standardised mortality ratio did not differ. The risk factors associated with the study endpoints included male gender, body mass index >25 kg/m 2, previous known coronary artery disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes mellitus and the use of statins. A total of 73% of the endpoints occurred in males. Conclusion: The prognosis for patients with NSCP is favourable, with a 1-year mortality after discharge that is comparable with the background population. Few clinical endpoints took place during follow-up, and those that did were predominantly in males.