Rapid rule out for suspected myocardial infarction: is the algorithm appropriate for all?

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erez Marcusohn ◽  
Danny Epstein ◽  
Ariel Roguin ◽  
Robert Zukermann

Abstract Aims Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with cardiac chest pain and high-sensitive troponin I (HsTnI) less than 5 ng/L have very good prognosis and low risk for major adverse cardiovascular events. The 2015 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI)/acute coronary syndrome (ACS) suggests that patients with normal high-sensitive troponin, which are free of chest pain and have a global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE) score less than 140 are eligible for discharge from the hospital for outpatient workup. Our hypothesis suggests that not all patients with GRACE score under 140 should be discharged for ambulatory tests even with undetectable HsTnI as recommended in the guidelines. Methods and results Population-based retrospective cohort study in a large tertiary care centre. The study population included all patients discharged from the hospital between 1 February 2016 and 28 February 2019 following rule out of MI. During the study period, a total of 13 800 patients were discharged from the hospital after rule out of MI. Among them, 9236 (67%) had HsTnI below 5 ng/L. A total of 7705 patients (83%) met the criteria for low (n = 7162) or moderate (n = 543) GRACE risk score. Moderate-risk patients had significantly more adverse events than low-risk patients (4.6% vs. 2.1%, P < 0.001). They are in higher risk of death (0.5% vs. 0.1%, P = 0.042), revascularization (3.9% vs. 1.8%, P = 0.0047), and readmission due to ACS (1.1% vs. 0.4%, P = 0.031). Conclusion Patients presenting to the ED with chest pain and HsTnI less than 5 ng/L and GRACE score under 140 have 2–4% adverse event in 60 days. The differences between the groups suggest using rapid rule out algorithms for only low-risk patients with GRACE score under 73.

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Hansen ◽  
C Bang ◽  
K G Lauridsen ◽  
C A Frederiksen ◽  
M Schmidt ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction According to ESC guidelines, an acute myocardial infarction (MI) can be excluded without serial troponin measurements in patients presenting with a single high-sensitive troponin below the 99th percentile and chest pain starting >6 hours prior to admission. However, it is unclear if single-testing of high-sensitive troponin can rule-out MI in early presenters. Purpose To investigate the diagnostic performance of a single value of high-sensitive cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) at presentation for ruling-out MI in patients presenting with chest pain to the Emergency Department irrespective of chest pain onset. Methods We conducted a substudy of preliminary data from the RACING-MI trial. We included patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of MI to the Emergency Department of a Regional Hospital. We used the Siemens hs-cTnI (Siemens Healthcare, TNIH, Limit of detection: 2.21 ng/L) and a diagnostic cut-off value <3 ng/L to rule-out MI at presentation. Two physicians independently adjudicated the final diagnosis based on all clinical information. Patients were stratified based on time from chest pain onset to hospital admission as very early (0–3 hours), early (3–6 hours) and late presenters (>6 hours). Results We included 989 patients with available hs-cTnI results at admission. MI was confirmed in 82 (8.3%) patients. Using hs-cTnI <3 ng/L as diagnostic cut-off value at presentation, 302 (30.5%) patients without MI were classified as rule-out. Overall, the negative predictive value (NPV) for MI was 100% (95% CI 98.7–100). Based on chest pain onset, 33.8% of patients were classified as very early, 12.8% as early, and 42.7% as late presenters, with 10.7% patients with unreported/unknown onset. NPV was 100% (95% CI 96.5–100) for very early, 100% (95% CI 88.3–100) for early and 100% (95% CI 97.3–100) for late presenters. Conclusions Using a single hs-cTnI value <3ng/L as diagnostic cut-off to rule-out MI seems to be safe and to allow rapid rule-out of MI in patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department, even in very early presenters. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03634384. Acknowledgement/Funding Randers Regional Hospital, A.P Møller Foundation, Boserup Foundation, Korning Foundation, Højmosegård Grant, Siemens Healthcare (TNIH assays), etc.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique N van Dongen ◽  
Rudolf T Tolsma ◽  
Marion J Fokkert ◽  
Erik A Badings ◽  
Aize van der Sluis ◽  
...  

Background: Pre-hospital risk stratification of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) by the complete HEART score has not yet been assessed. We investigated whether pre-hospital risk stratification of patients with suspected NSTE-ACS using the HEART score is accurate in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Methods: This is a prospective observational study, including 700 patients with suspected NSTE-ACS. Risk stratification was performed by ambulance paramedics, using the HEART score; low risk was defined as HEART score ⩽ 3. Primary endpoint was occurrence of MACE within 45 days after inclusion. Secondary endpoint was myocardial infarction or death. Results: A total of 172 patients (24.6%) were stratified as low risk and 528 patients (75.4%) as intermediate to high risk. Mean age was 53.9 years in the low risk group and 66.7 years in the intermediate to high risk group ( p<0.001), 50% were male in the low risk group versus 60% in the intermediate to high risk group ( p=0.026). MACE occurred in five patients in the low risk group (2.9%) and in 111 (21.0%) patients at intermediate or high risk ( p<0.001). There were no deaths in the low risk group and the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction in this group was 1.2%. In the high risk group six patients died (1.1%) and 76 patients had myocardial infarction (14.4%). Conclusions: In suspected NSTE-ACS, pre-hospital risk stratification by ambulance paramedics, including troponin measurement, is accurate in differentiating between low and intermediate to high risk. Future studies should investigate whether transportation of low risk patients to a hospital can be avoided, and whether high risk patients benefit from immediate transfer to a hospital with early coronary angiography possibilities.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J O’Neil ◽  
Patrick Medado ◽  
James Wegner ◽  
Michael Gallagher ◽  
Gil Raff

Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) is a diagnostic test shown to have a high negative predictive value for coronary artery disease and major cardiac events at three months. Many emergency department, (ED), protocols mandate serial enzymes prior to discharge to capture possible myocardial injury even with normal CCTAs. Determine the value of serial cardiac enzymes in low risk patients (TIMI Risk Score <3) presenting to the ED with chest pain who have a normal or intermediate CTA, (< 25% stenosis). 307 patients received CCTA as part of clinical trials. All patients presented to the ED with suspected acute coronary syndrome and had a TIMI Risk <3, non diagnostic ECGs and negative initial enzymes. All patients had serial enzymes sampling at least 4 hours apart per protocol. Structured telephone follow up and chart review was completed at 30 and 90 days post ED visit. All data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. 68% of all CTA patients were classified as normal < 25% stenosis, with another 8% considered intermediate < 50% stenosis. Average time between blood collection was 4:30+/−1:28. All patients had normal serial Troponin I values (Normal <0.05 ng/mL) with no appreciable delta over time. 39 patients had an increase in Myoglobin values with 10 having a delta ≥20% but <50%, none of these patients had a level above our normal range (< 98 ng/ml). Only one myoglobin values was above our normal limits, but did change over time. There were no deaths or adverse cardiac events at 90 days in this population. In this study of low risk patients with suspected cardiac ischemia (TIMI <3) and a normal or intermediate CCTA, serial cardiac enzymes have no utility.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 394-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Tobias Neumann ◽  
Nils Arne Sörensen ◽  
Francisco Ojeda ◽  
Tjark Schwemer ◽  
Jonas Lehmacher ◽  
...  

Abstract AIMS Serial measurements of high-sensitivity troponin are used to rule out acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with an assay specific cutoff at the 99th percentile. Here, we evaluated the performance of a single admission troponin with a lower cutoff combined with a low risk electrocardiogram (ECG) to rule out AMI. METHODS Troponin I measured with a high-sensitivity assay (hs-TnI) was determined at admission in 1040 patients presenting with suspected AMI (BACC study). To rule out AMI we calculated the negative predictive value (NPV) utilizing the optimal hs-TnI cutoff combined with a low risk ECG. The results were validated in 3566 patients with suspected AMI [2-h Accelerated Diagnostic Protocol to Assess Patients With Chest Pain Symptoms Using Contemporary Troponins as the Only Biomarker (ADAPT) studies]. Patients were followed for 6 or 12 months. RESULTS 184 of all patients were diagnosed with AMI. An hs-TnI cutoff of 3 ng/L resulted in a NPV of 99.3% (CI 97.3–100.0), ruling out 35% of all non-AMI patients. Adding the information of a low risk ECG resulted in a 100% (CI 97.5–100.0) NPV (28% ruled out). The 2 validation cohorts replicated the high NPV of this approach. The follow-up mortality in the ruled out population was low (0 deaths in BACC and Stenocardia, 1 death in ADAPT). CONCLUSIONS A single hs-TnI measurement on admission combined with a low risk ECG appears to rule out AMI safely without need for serial troponin testing. Trial Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02355457).


Author(s):  
Evangelos Giannitsis ◽  
Hugo A Katus

Biomarker testing in the evaluation of a patient with acute chest pain is best established for cardiac troponins that allow the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, risk estimation of short- and long-term risk of death and myocardial infarction, and guidance of pharmacological therapy, as well as the need and timing of invasive strategy. Newer, more sensitive troponin assays have become commercially available and have the capability to detect myocardial infarction earlier and more sensitively than standard assays, but they are hampered by a lack of clinical specificity, i.e. the ability to discriminate myocardial ischaemia from myocardial necrosis not related to ischaemia such as myocarditis, pulmonary embolism, or decompensated heart failure. Strategies to improve clinical specificity (including strict adherence to the universal myocardial infarction definition and the need for serial troponin measurements to detect an acute rise and/or fall of cardiac troponin) will improve the interpretation of the increasing number of positive results. Other biomarkers of inflammation, activated coagulation/fibrinolysis, and increased ventricular stress mirror different aspects of the underlying disease activity and may help to improve our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of acute coronary syndromes. Among the flood of new biomarkers, there are several novel promising biomarkers, such as copeptin that allows an earlier rule-out of myocardial infarction in combination with cardiac troponin, whereas MR-proANP and MR-proADM appear to allow a refinement of cardiovascular risk. GDF-15 might help to identify candidates for an early invasive vs conservative strategy. A multi-marker approach to biomarkers becomes more and more attractive, as increasing evidence suggests that a combination of several biomarkers may help to predict individual risk and treatment benefits, particularly among normal-troponin subjects. Future goals include the acceleration of rule-in and rule-out of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome, in order to shorten lengths of stay in the emergency department, and to optimize patient management and the use of health care resources. New algorithms using high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays at low cut-offs alone, or in combination with additional biomarkers, allow to establish accelerated rule-out algorithms within 1 or 2 hours.


2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
CY Man ◽  
PA Cameron ◽  
WL Cheung

Introduction Patients presenting with chest pain and considered to be at low risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may still have coronary heart disease. The potential risk of sudden cardiac death due to arrhythmias or progression to acute myocardial infarction still exists. To minimize this risk, we have designed a 6-hour risk stratification protocol for patients with a low risk of acute myocardial infarction on initial assessment in the Accident and Emergency Department (AED). Materials & Methods This was a retrospective observational study with the aim of determining the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in chest pain patients attending an AED. These patients were subject to an ECG and cardiac troponin T tests (cTnT) at 0 hour and at 6 hours (if the two tests were negative at 0 hour), and were put under observation in the AED observation ward during the same period. The main outcome measures were adverse cardiac events at 30 days. Results A total of 371 Chinese patients considered to have low risk of ACS were recruited into the protocol. Troponin T tested positive in 19 patients (5.1%) at 0 hour and 8 patients (2.2%) at 6 hours. Amongst the 332 patients that were discharged directly from the AED, there were no re-admissions for cardiac-related deaths, acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmia or heart failure. Conclusion The 6-hour ECG and troponin T observation protocol is a useful tool to allow safe discharge of chest pain patients who are at low risk of acute coronary syndrome.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Zheng ◽  
Guangmei Wang ◽  
Jingjing Ma ◽  
Shuo Wu ◽  
He Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score is recommended for stratifying chest pain. However, there are six formulas used to calculate the GRACE score for different outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including death (Dth) or composite of death and myocardial infarction (MI), during in hospital (IH), in 6 months after discharge (OH6m) or from admission to 6 months later (IH6m). The more appropriate one for stratification of undifferentiated chest pain remains unclear. We aimed to provide firstly comprehensive evaluation and comparison of six GRACE models to predict 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in acute chest pain at the emergency department (ED). Methods Patients with acute chest pain were consecutively recruited from August 24, 2015 to September 30, 2017 in EDs of two public hospitals in China. The primary outcome was MACE within 30 days, including death, acute myocardial infarction (MI), emergency revascularization, cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock. GRACE scores were calculated retrospectively using the prospectively obtained data. Correlation, calibration, discrimination and reclassification of six GRACE models were evaluated. Results A total of 2886 patients were analyzed, with 590 (20.4%) patients getting outcomes. The GRACE (IH6mDthMI), GRACE (IHDthMI), GRACE (IHDth), GRACE (IH6mDth), GRACE (OH6mDth) and GRACE (OH6mDthMI) showed positive linear correlation with actual MACE rates (r≥0.568, p<0.001), first two of which exerted very strong relationships (r>0.9). All these models had good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, p≥0.073) except GRACE (IHDthMI) (p<0.001). The corresponding c-statistics were 0.82(0.81,0.83), 0.83(0.81,0.84), 0.75(0.73,0.76), 0.73(0.72,0.75), 0.72(0.70,0.73) and 0.70(0.68,0.71). Improvement in AUC, NRI and IDI (p<0.001) represented that GRACE (IH6mDthMI) and GRACE (IHDthMI) were superior to other four models in discrimination and reclassification. Conclusions The GRACE (IH6mDthMI) and GRACE (IHDthMI) outperformed other GRACE models in discriminating high or low-risk of 30-day MACE in patients with chest pain. The reasonable application of appropriate GRACE models should be recommended on stratification of undifferentiated chest pain presenting to the ED.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Zheng ◽  
Guangmei Wang ◽  
Jingjing Ma ◽  
Shuo Wu ◽  
He Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score is recommended for stratifying chest pain. However, there are six formulas used to calculate the GRACE score for different outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including death (Dth) or composite of death and myocardial infarction (MI), while in hospital (IH), within 6 months after discharge (OH6m) or from admission to 6 months later (IH6m). We aimed to perform the first comprehensive evaluation and comparison of six GRACE models to predict 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in patients with acute chest pain in the emergency department (ED). Methods: Patients with acute chest pain were consecutively recruited from August 24, 2015 to September 30, 2017 from the EDs of two public hospitals in China. The 30-day MACEs included death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), emergency revascularization, cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock. The correlation, calibration, discrimination, reclassification and diagnostic accuracy at certain cutoff values of six GRACE models were evaluated. Comparisons with the History, ECG, Age, Risk Factors, and Troponin (HEART) and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) scores were conducted. Results: A total of 2886 patients were analyzed, with 590 (20.4%) patients experiencing outcomes. The GRACE(IHDthMI), GRACE(IH6mDthMI), GRACE(IHDth), GRACE(IH6mDth), GRACE(OH6mDth) and GRACE(OH6mDthMI) showed positive linear correlations with the actual MACE rates (r≥0.568, p<0.001). All these models had good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, p≥0.073) except GRACE(IHDthMI) (p<0.001). The corresponding C-statistics were 0.83(0.81,0.84), 0.82(0.81,0.83), 0.75(0.73,0.76), 0.73(0.72,0.75), 0.72(0.70,0.73) and 0.70(0.68,0.71), respectively, first two of which were comparable to HEART (0.82, 0.80-0.83) and superior to TIMI (0.71, 0.69-0.73). With a sensitivity ≥95%, GRACE(IHDthMI) ≤81 and GRACE(IH6mDthMI) ≤79 identified 868(30%) and 821(28%) patients as low risk, respectively, which were significantly better than other GRACEs and HEART ≤3(22%). With a specificity ≥95%, GRACE(IHDthMI) >186 and GRACE(IH6mDthMI) >161 could recognize 12% and 11% patients as high risk, which were greater than other GRACEs, HEART ≥8(9%) and TIMI ≥5(8%). Conclusions: In this Chinese setting, certain strengths of GRACE models beyond HEART and TIMI scores were still noteworthy for stratifying chest pain patients. The validation and reasonable application of appropriate GRACE models in the evaluation of undifferentiated chest pain should be recommended.


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