Presenting characteristics of patients undergoing cardiac troponin measurements in the emergency department

CJEM ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Goodman ◽  
Peter A. Kavsak ◽  
Stephen A. Hill ◽  
Andrew Worster
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Cardiac Troponin ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Shortness Of Breath ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Secondary Objective

AbstractIntroductionNot all patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) receiving cardiac troponin (cTn) testing present to the emergency department (ED) with cardiac chest pain. Since elderly patients (age ≥70) have increased morbidity and mortality associated with ACS, complaints other than cardiac chest pain may justify cTn testing. Our primary objective was to characterize the population of ED patients who receive cTn testing. The secondary objective was to determine if elderly patients underwent cTn testing for different presenting complaints than their younger counterparts.MethodsWe created an electronic database including Canadian Emergency Department Information Systems (CEDIS) presenting complaints, age, sex, disposition, and Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS) score, for patients who received cTn testing in three Canadian EDs during 2011. We analyzed the data for patient characteristics and sorted by age (<70 and ≥70) for further analysis.ResultsIn the 15,824 included patients, the average age was 66 (51%<70; 51% female). The most common presenting complaints were cardiac chest pain (n=3,267) and shortness of breath (n=2,266). The elderly underwent cTn testing for significantly (p<0.0001) different complaints than their younger counterparts. They more commonly presented with generalized weakness (n=898), whereas younger patients more frequently had abdominal pain (n=576).ConclusionsCardiac chest pain and shortness of breath are presenting complaints in one-third of patients undergoing ED cTn testing. The majority of patients undergoing cTn testing did not have typical ACS symptoms. Half of all cTn testing in the ED is on the elderly, who present with different complaints than their younger counterparts.

scholarly journals Comparison of Six Decision Aid Rules For Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction In Elderly Patients Presenting To The Emergency Department With Acute Chest Pain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juraj Hrečko ◽  
Jiří Dokoupil ◽  
Radek Pudil
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Decision Aid ◽  
Real Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Coronary Syndrome

Abstract Background: Using decision aid rules for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is not common practice in our region. Elderly patients are often neglected in clinical trials, and the proper diagnostics of acute myocardial infarction in this group remains problematic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of different strategies for the diagnosis of AMI in the elderly in real-life clinical practice. Methods: In a retrospective single-center study, we included patients older than 70 years presenting to the emergency department with chest pain as a dominant symptom. The performance of six decision aid rules (T-MACS, HEART, EDACS, TIMI, GRACE, and ADAPT) and solo troponin T strategy for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction was evaluated by calculating sensitivity, specificity, odds ratios, negative and positive predictive values.Results: A total of 250 patients, with a mean age of 78.5 years, were enrolled. Forty-eight patients (19.2%) had an acute myocardial infarction in a 30 day follow-up period. The sensitivity for ruling-out AMI was 100% for T-MACS, HEART, and ADAPT; 97.9% for EDACS, 93.8% for TIMI, and 81.3% for GRACE and solo TnT strategy. For ruling-in AMI, the specificity was 97.5% for T-MACS, 95% for TIMI, 83.2% for HEART, 81.7% for GRACE, and 46% for ADAPT. C-statistics were 0.52 for T-MACS, 0.51 for ADAPT, 0.47 for EDACS and GRACE, 0.46 for HEART and TIMI, and 0.33 for solo TnT strategy.Conclusion: T-MACS decision aid had the best performance with 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive value for rule-out AMI; 97.5% specificity and 64.3% positive predictive value for rule-in AMI. Other evaluated protocols were less accurate. Risk stratification of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome based on decision aid rules can be used in real-life practice, even in the population of the elderly.

scholarly journals Variation of Cardiac Troponin I and T Measured with Sensitive Assays in Emergency Department Patients with Noncardiac Chest Pain

2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1208-1214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volkher Scharnhorst ◽  
Krisztina Krasznai ◽  
Marcel van 't Veer ◽  
Rolf H Michels
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Cardiac Troponin ◽  
Myocardial Necrosis ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Noncardiac Chest Pain ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Concentration Changes

Abstract BACKGROUND New-generation high-sensitivity assays for cardiac troponin have lower detection limits and less imprecision than earlier assays. Reference 99th-percentile cutoff values for these new assays are also lower, leading to higher frequencies of positive test results. When cardiac troponin concentrations are minimally increased, serial testing allows discrimination of myocardial infarction from other causes of increased cardiac troponin. We assessed various measures of short-term variation, including absolute concentration changes, reference change values (RCVs), and indices of individuality (II) for 2 cardiac troponin assays in emergency department (ED) patients. METHODS We collected blood from patients presenting with cardiac chest pain upon arrival in the ED and 2, 6, and 12 h later. Cardiac troponin was measured with the high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) assay (Roche Diagnostics) and a sensitive cTnI assay (Siemens Diagnostics). Cardiac troponin results from 67 patients without acute coronary syndrome or stable angina were used in calculating absolute changes in cardiac troponin, RCVs, and II. RESULTS The 95th percentiles for absolute change in cardiac troponin were 8.3 ng/L for hs-cTnT and 28 ng/L for cTnI. Within-individual and total CVs were 11% and 14% for hs-cTnT and 18% and 21% for cTnI, respectively. RCVs were 38% (hs-cTnT) and 57% (cTnI). The corresponding log-normal RCVs were +46%/−32% for hs-cTnT and +76%/−43% for cTnI. II values were 0.31 (cTnI) and 0.12 (hs-cTnT). CONCLUSIONS The short-term variations and IIs of cardiac troponin were low in ED patients free of ischemic myocardial necrosis. The detection of cardiac troponin variation exceeding reference thresholds can help to identify ED patients with acute myocardial necrosis whereas variation within these limits renders acute coronary syndrome unlikely.

scholarly journals CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh Kumar Singhal ◽  
Harsha Kumar Gowardhan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Shortness Of Breath ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Clinical Presentations ◽  
Myocardial Infraction

Background: The cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have become the leading cause of mortality worldwide. There is an increasing burden on health care systems associated with MIs in the elderly, differences in clinical picture, and difficulties in dealing with elderly patients with myocardial infraction (MI). Aim: The aim of study is to evaluate the different clinical presentations, risk factors and complications of elderly patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction. Methods: This is a retrospective, cross sectional study done over a period of 1 year. A total of 100 elderly patients who were diagnosed as AMI were included in the study. We studied Demographic features, cardiovascular risk factors, varied clinical presentations Electrocardiogram (ECG) findings from the history proformas and documented. Results: A total of 100 patients diagnosed with MI were studied. Mean age of the study population was 69.41 years and were predominantly male (84%). The most common presenting symptom was chest pain (79%) followed by sweating (7%), followed by shortness of breath (5%), giddiness (4%) vomiting (3%) and palpitations (2%). hypertension was commonly seen in elderly (56%) followed by diabetes (39%), smoking (28%), dyslipidaemias (12%), history of CAD (9%) and obesity (6%).  Mortality rate was 26% and maximum (11%) patients belonged to age group >80 years. Conclusion: We conclude that chest pain is the most common presentation in elderly AMI patients, but other atypical symptoms such as shortness of breath, giddiness, vomiting, without chest pain can also be the common presenting signs. Early and prompt management as appropriate should be provided to avoid morbidity and mortality in elderly. Keywords: Clinical Profile, Mortality, Myocardial Infarction, Risk Factors.

scholarly journals Higher Frequency of Undetected Acute Coronary Syndrome in Elderly Patients with Chest Pain Who Visited the Emergency Department: A Large-Cohort Retrospective Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ki Hun Hong ◽  
Sung Jin Bae ◽  
Dong Hoon Lee ◽  
Choung Ah. Lee ◽  
Sang Hyun Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Baseline Characteristic ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Old Patients ◽  
Coronary Syndrome

Background. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a critical disease encountered in the emergency department (ED). Despite the development of diagnostic tools, it may be difficult to diagnose ACS because of atypical symptoms and equivocal test results. We investigated the difference in the rates of revisit and undetected ACS between adult and elderly patients who visited the ED with chest pain. Method. Data from 11,323 patients who visited the ED with chest pain at university hospitals in Korea were retrospectively analyzed. The cohort was categorized into two age groups: the adult (30–64 years) and elderly (>65 years). Baseline characteristic data (age, sex, vital signs, triage category, etc.) were obtained. We selected patients who revisited the ED within 30 d and investigated whether ACS was diagnosed. Result. The revisit rate was higher in the elderly (12%) than in the adult group (8.3%). The rate of undetected ACS among the revisited patients was 2.91% (18/7,186) in adults and 6.08% (16/1,998) in elderly patients. Conclusion. Elderly patients with chest pain had an increased rate of ED revisits and undetected ACS than adult patients. We recommend that old patients should be hospitalized to observe the progression of cardiac complaints or receive short-term follow-up.

scholarly journals LO76: Emergency department procedural sedation in elderly patients

CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (S1) ◽  
pp. S54
Author(s):  
A. Harris ◽  
M.B. Butler ◽  
M. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Assisted Ventilation ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Procedural Sedation ◽  
Younger Patients ◽  
Orthopedic Injury ◽  
Increased Risk

Introduction: The use of procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) for the performance of Emergency Department (ED) procedures has been reported to be safe and effective. However, few studies have evaluated the safety of PSA in the elderly, with conflicting results. Our primary objective was to determine if elderly patients undergoing PSA for the management of an orthopedic injury had an increased risk of adverse events (AEs) during the procedure. Methods: This retrospective review of prospectively recorded data between 2006 and 2016 included patients aged ≥16 years undergoing PSA at a single institution to facilitate treatment of a fracture or dislocation. Patients were separated into 3 age groups for analysis: young (18-40), middle-aged (41-64) and elderly (≥65). Elderly patients were divided into 3 subgroups. The primary AEs studied include hypoxia (SpO2&lt;90 %) and hypotension (systolic blood pressure &lt;100 mmHg, or &gt;15% reduction from baseline if initial &lt;100 mmHg). Logistic regression (LR) models tested for associations between age and outcome measurements. Effect sizes were described as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals. Results: 4171 patients were studied, including 1125 patients ≥65 years of age. More than 90% of the time, propofol was used as a single agent sedative. Fentanyl was given as an analgesic adjunct in 88% of patients. Medication dosing declined as patients aged. In the young group, the average total propofol dose was 2.34 mg/kg compared to 1.42 mg/kg in the elderly (≥85 years subgroup: 1.07 mg/kg). Despite this, hypoxia was more likely to occur in elderly patients (2.3%) compared to younger patients (0.4%). LR models demonstrated that hypoxia was more likely to occur in: the elderly [OR 4.29 (1.58,11.70)], patients with an ASA classification score of 3 or higher [OR 4.71 (1.89,11.70)], and higher dosing of fentanyl in the elderly [OR 2.35 (1.21,4.57)]. Oral or nasal airway, assisted ventilation, and suctioning were required in less than 1% of all patients. Endotracheal intubation was never required. Hypotension was more likely in elderly patients (11.6%) than younger patients (8.3%). Conclusion: When performing PSA, clinicians should be aware of the increased risk of AEs in the elderly, particularly hypoxia, and modify selection, dosing, and administration of the PSA medication(s) appropriately. Future study should examine the intermediate and long-term outcomes of elderly patients following ED PSA.

Triage Ability of Emergency Medical Services Providers and Patient Disposition: A Prospective Study

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 67-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Richards ◽  
Stephen J. Ferrall
Keyword(s):  
Chest Pain ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Shortness Of Breath ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Patient Disposition ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Respiratory Complaints

AbstractStudy objective:To determine the ability of emergency medical services (EMS) providers to subjectively triage patients with respect to hospital admission and to determine patient characteristics associated with increased likelihood of admission.Methods:A prospective, cross-sectional study of a consecutive sample of patients arriving by ambulance during the month of February 1997 at an urban, university hospital, Emergency Department. Emergency medical services providers completed a questionnaire asking them to predict admission to the hospital and requested patient demographic information. Predictions were compared to actual patient disposition.Results:A total of 887 patients were included in the study, and 315 were admitted to the hospital (36%). With respect to admission, emergency medical services providers had an accuracy rate of 79%, with a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 83% (kappa = 0.56). Blunt traumatic injury and altered mental status were the most common medical reasons for admission. Variables significantly associated with high admission rates were patients with age > 50 years, chest pain or cardiac complaints, shortness of breath or respiratory complaints, Medicare insurance, and Hispanic ethnicity. The emergency medical services providers most accurately predicted admission for patients presenting with labor (kappa = 1.0), shortness of breath / respiratory complaints (kappa = 0.84), and chest pain (kappa = 0.77).Conclusion:Emergency medical services providers can predict final patient disposition with reasonable accuracy, especially for patients presenting with labor, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Certain patient characteristics are associated with a higher rate of actual admission.

scholarly journals Effects of Dust Storms and Climatological Factors on Mortality and Morbidity of Cardiovascular Diseases Admitted to ED

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behcet Al ◽  
Mustafa Bogan ◽  
Suat Zengin ◽  
Mustafa Sabak ◽  
Seval Kul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Inpatient Hospitalization ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Coronary Syndrome

Objective. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Desert Dust Storms and Climatological Factors on Mortality and Morbidity of Cardiovascular Diseases admitted to emergency department in Gaziantep. Method. Hospital records, obtained between September 01, 2009 and January 31, 2014, from four state hospitals in Gaziantep, Turkey, were compared to meteorological and climatological data. Statistical analysis was performed by Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) for windows version 24.0. Results. 168,467 patients were included in this study. 83% of the patients had chest pain and 17% of patients had cardiac failure (CF). An increase in inpatient hospitalization due to CF was observed and corresponded to the duration of dust storms measured by number of days. However, there was no significant increase in emergency department (ED) presentations. There was no significant association of cardiac related mortality and coinciding presence of a dust storm or higher recorded temperature. The association of increases in temperature levels and the presence of dust storms with “acute coronary syndrome- (ACS-) related emergency service presentations, inpatient hospitalization, and mortality” were statistically significant. The relationship between the increase in PM10 levels due to causes unrelated to dust storms and the outpatient application, admission, and mortality due to heart failure was not significant. The increase in particle matter 10 (PM) levels due to causes outside the dust storm caused a significant increase in outpatient application, hospitalization, and mortality originated from ACS. Conclusion. Increased number of dust storms resulted in a higher prevalence of mortality due to ACS while mortality due to heart failure remained unchanged. Admission, hospitalization, and mortality due to chest pain both dependent and independent of ACS were increased by the presence of dust storms, PM10 elevation, and maximum temperature.

Abstract 681: Characteristics of Atherosclerotic Plaque Burden in Patients With and Without Acute Coronary Syndrome Presenting With Acute Chest Pain to the Emergency Department

Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Bamberg ◽  
Maros Ferecik ◽  
Quynh Truong ◽  
Ian Rogers ◽  
Michael Shapiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Coronary Arteries ◽  
Atherosclerotic Plaque ◽  
Acute Chest Pain ◽  
Coronary Plaque ◽  
Plaque Burden ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Coronary Ct ◽  
Calcified Plaque

Background: Coronary computed tomography (CT) may improve the early triage of patients with acute chest pain in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to compare the presence and extent of coronary atherosclerotic plaque as detected by coronary CT in patients with and without acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Methods: The study was designed as a prospective, observational cohort study in patients with acute chest pain but negative cardiac biomarkers and no diagnostic ECG changes, admitted to rule out myocardial ischemia. All patients underwent coronary CT prior to hospital admission. The presence of coronary plaque was treated as a dichotomous outcome, and the extent of CAD was defined as number of (1) coronary segments with plaque, or (2) major coronary arteries with plaque detected by MDCT as assessed by two independent observers. The clinical outcome (ACS) was adjudicated by a review committee using established AHA criteria; subjects with history of CAD (stent placement, bypass) were excluded. Results : Among 368 patients with acute chest pain (mean age 53±12 years, 61% male) 31 patients were determined to have ACS (8%). None of the 183 subjects without plaque (50%) had an ACS. Among the remaining 185 subjects (mean age 58.0±11.5 years, 68% male) in whom coronary plaque was detected, patients with ACS had a significantly more plaque (7.2±3.7 vs. 4.2±3.4, p<0.0001 segments) as compared to subjects without ACS. Similar results were seen for calcified plaque and non-calcified plaque (6.5±3.7 vs. 3.6±3.5 segments, p<0.0001; and 3.6±3.2 vs. 1.8±2.2 segments, p<0.0001, respectively). In addition, the rate of ACS increased with the number of major coronary arteries with plaque (1-vessel: 6.8%, 2-vessels: 10.6%, 3 vessels: 30.8%, and 4-vessels: 25%; p<0.01). In contrast, the ratio of non-calcified to calcified plaque was not different between patients with and without ACS (0.68±0.6 vs. 0.54±0.72, p=0.31). Conclusions: The extent of coronary plaque differs between subjects with and without ACS among patients presenting with acute chest pain. Detailed assessment of the extent and composition of coronary plaque may be helpful to assess risk of ACS among patients with acute chest pain but inconclusive initial ED evaluation.

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