Anxiety disorders in patients with noncardiac chest pain: association with health-related quality of life and chest pain severity

Background Patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) report more severe symptoms and lowered health-related quality of life when they present with comorbid panic disorder (PD). Although generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the second most common psychiatric disorder in these patients, its impact on NCCP and health-related quality of life remains understudied. This study describes and prospectively compares patients with NCCP with or without PD or GAD in terms of (1) NCCP severity; and (2) the physical and mental components of health-related quality of life. Methods A total of 915 patients with NCCP were consecutively recruited in two emergency departments. The presence of comorbid PD or GAD was assessed at baseline with the Anxiety Disorder Schedule for DSM-IV. NCCP severity at baseline and at the six-month follow-up was assessed with a structured telephone interview, and the patients completed the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey Version 2 (SF-12v2) to assess health-related quality of life at both time points. Results Average NCCP severity decreased between baseline and the six-month follow-up (p < .001) and was higher in the patients with comorbid PD or GAD (p < .001) at both time points compared to those with NCCP only. However, average NCCP severity did not differ between patients with PD and those with GAD (p = 0.901). The physical component of quality of life improved over time (p = 0.016) and was significantly lower in the subset of patients with PD with or without comorbid GAD compared to the other groups (p < .001). A significant time x group interaction was found for the mental component of quality of life (p = 0.0499). GAD with or without comorbid PD was associated with a lower mental quality of life, and this effect increased at the six-month follow-up. Conclusions Comorbid PD or GAD are prospectively associated with increased chest pain severity and lowered health-related quality of life in patients with NCCP. PD appears to be mainly associated with the physical component of quality of life, while GAD has a greater association with the mental component. Knowledge of these differences could help in the management of patients with NCCP and these comorbidities.

Improving Communication with Patients Discharged from the Emergency Department with Noncardiac Chest Pain: A Scoping Review with Narrative Synthesis

Background. This scoping review with narrative synthesis aimed to analyze scholarly peer-reviewed articles reporting on improving communication with patients discharged from the emergency department with noncardiac chest pain and qualitatively narrate on and summarize items that can be used in guiding communication with patients discharged from the emergency department with noncardiac chest pain. Methods. The databases of EMBASE/PubMed, Scopus, COCHRANE, CInAHL/EBESCO, UW libraries, and Google Scholar were searched using relevant MeSH and key terms up to February 06, 2020. The selected articles were analyzed for their contents. Items guiding discharge communication were summarized qualitatively. Results. Twenty-five articles were eligible for full review. These were published in between 1994 and 2020. Of those, 16 (64.0%) originated from the United States and 4 (16%) used some interventional design. A total of 45 different items that could be used in guiding discharge communication with patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain were identified from the studies included in this review. Items were grouped under 6 categories that were related to initial assessment (8 items), information on diagnosis (7 items), information on discharge (9 items), follow-up suggestions (7 items), symptoms that promote return to the emergency department (7 items), and treatment plan (7 items). Conclusion. Communication with patients discharged from the emergency department with noncardiac chest pain can be improved. Results of this investigation might be helpful in guiding quality improvement projects aimed for further improvement of communication with patients discharged from the emergency department with noncardiac chest pain.

Anxiety disorders in patients with noncardiac chest pain: association with health-related quality of life and chest pain severity

BackgroundPatients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) report more severe symptoms and lowered health-related quality of life when they present with comorbid panic disorder (PD). Although generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the second most common psychiatric disorder in these patients, its impact on NCCP and health-related quality of life remains understudied. This study describes and prospectively compares patients with NCCP with or without PD or GAD in terms of (1) NCCP severity; and (2) the physical and mental components of health-related quality of life. MethodsA total of 915 patients with NCCP were consecutively recruited in two emergency departments. The presence of comorbid PD or GAD was assessed at baseline with the Anxiety Disorder Schedule for DSM-IV. NCCP severity at baseline and at the six-month followup was assessed with a structured telephone interview, and the patients completed the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey Version 2 (SF-12v2) to assess health-related quality of life at both time points. ResultsAverage NCCP severity decreased between baseline and the six-month follow-up ( p <.001) and was higher in the patients with comorbid PD or GAD ( p <.001) at both time points compared to those with NCCP only. However, average NCCP severity did not differ between patients with PD and those with GAD ( p = 0.901). The physical component of quality of life improved over time ( p = 0.016) and was significantly lower in the subset of patients with PD with or without comorbid GAD compared to the other groups ( p <.001). A significant time x group interaction was found for the mental component of quality of life ( p = 0.0499). GAD with or without comorbid PD was associated with a lower mental quality of life, and this effect increased at the six-month follow-up. ConclusionsComorbid PD or GAD are prospectively associated with increased chest pain severity and lowered health-related quality of life in patients with NCCP. PD appears to be mainly associated with the physical component of quality of life, while GAD has a greater association with the mental component. Knowledge of these differences could help in the management of patients with NCCP and these comorbidities.

The Causes of Chest Pain and the Positive Rate of Myocardial Enzyme Testing in Diagnosis of Chest Pain in Children

Background Chest pain is a common complaint at pediatric cardiology clinics and often leads to an extensive cardiac evaluation. In this study, we analyzed the causes of chest pain in Chinese children and developed criteria for targeted myocardial enzyme testing.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients aged below 18 years visiting our hospital for chest pain between 2005 and 2019. Based on auxiliary exams and clinical diagnosis, we analyzed the positive rate of myocardial enzyme testing in identifying the causes of chest pain in children.Results A total of 7251 children were included in this study. The chest pain was of cardiac origin in 581 patients (8.0%). The incidence of noncardiac chest pain was significantly higher in the preschool group and the school-age group than in the adolescent group (93.5% vs 93.8% vs 90.3%, P < 0.05). Among children with cardiac chest pain, the most common concomitant symptom was chest tightness (67.0%). Myocardial enzyme testing was performed in 5408 patients and was abnormal in 453 (8.4%) patients.Conclusions In children, chest pain is mostly benign and rarely cardiac. During diagnosis, targeted myocardial enzyme testing based on medical history and physical examination can effectively reduce resource use.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common gastrointestinal diagnosis made in outpatient clinics, responsible for over 5 million annual outpatient visits and likely hundreds of thousands of inpatient stays for noncardiac chest pain. GERD’s current definition, based on international consensus, is a “condition which develops when the reflux of stomach contents causes troublesome symptoms (i.e., at least two heartburn episodes per week) and/or complications.” Also defining GERD is the presence of erosive esophagitis on upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy [EGD]) with or without the presence of troublesome symptoms or the presence of troublesome symptoms without endoscopic evidence of erosive esophagitis (also known as nonerosive reflux disease). This review looks at GERD in detail, including its epidemiology and risk factors, genetics, pathogenesis and etiologic factors, clinical presentation and symptoms, differentials, diagnosis, and complications. Figures presented are an EGD image showing signs of erosive esophagitis, Barrett esophagus, and hiatal hernia and sample recordings from a 24-hour combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH testing. Tables list differential diagnoses for GERD, indications for performing EGD in patients with GERD symptoms, and a summary of GERD therapies. This review contains ­2 figures, 4 tables, and 74 references.

Spinal pathologies and management strategies associated with cervical angina (pseudoangina): a systematic review

OBJECTIVECervical angina, or pseudoangina pectoris, is a noncardiac syndrome of chest pain that often mimics angina pectoris but is a disease of the spine. Diagnosis of cervical angina can be difficult and is often overlooked, although once identified, it can be successfully managed through conservative therapies and/or a variety of surgical interventions. Ultimately, cervical angina is an important component of the list of differential diagnoses in noncardiac chest pain. In the present study, the authors report the first comprehensive systematic review of the range of cervical and thoracic pathologies associated with cervical angina, as well as the different treatment methods used to manage this condition.METHODSA systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines and using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases from database inception to April 29, 2020, to identify studies describing spinal pathologies related to cervical angina. The following Boolean search was performed: (“cervical” OR “thoracic”) AND (“angina” OR “chest pain”) AND (“herniation” OR “OPLL”). Variables extracted included patient demographics, cervical angina pain location, pathology and duration of symptoms, treatment and/or management method, and posttreatment pain relief.RESULTSUpon careful screening, 22 articles published between 1976 and 2020 met the study’s inclusion/exclusion criteria, including 5 case series, 12 case reports, and 5 retrospective cohort studies. These studies featured a total of 1100 patients, of which 95 met inclusion criteria (mean patient age 51.7 years, age range 24–86 years; 53.6% male). Collectively, symptom durations ranged from 1.5 days to 90 months. Cervical herniation (72.6%) accounted for the majority of cervical angina cases, and surgical interventions (84.4%) predominated over physical therapy (13.0%) and medical management strategies (9.1%). Every patient assessed at follow-up reported relief from symptoms related to cervical angina.CONCLUSIONSCervical angina is a noncardiac syndrome of chest pain associated with a broad range of cervical and thoracic spinal pathologies, the most common of which is cervical disc herniation. Although difficult to diagnose, it can be successfully treated when identified through first-line conservative management or surgical interventions in refractory cases.

Independent predictors of repeat emergency room presentations in patients with noncardiac chest pain: insights from a cohort of 1066 consecutive patients with 4770 repeat presentations

Introduction Repeat attendances with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) to emergency room (ER) are frequent..Our aim was to analyse predictors of repeat presentations to ER in patients with NCCP. Methods We prospectively enrolled 1066 consecutive presentations with NCCP to a major urban hospital ER. Index of multiple deprivation (IMR) was computed. Charlson comorbidity (CCM) index was determined. Repeat presentation to ER to any national hospital was determined by a national linked database (pop. 53.5m). Results Median age was 43 (IQR 28, 59), 50.8% were male. 63% were current or previous smokers. 1 year incidence of adjudicated MI, coronary revascularisation and all-cause death was 0.6%, 2% and 5.3% respectively. There was a total of 4770 repeat ER presentations. After taking account of death independent predictors for repeat presentation were current smoking (OR 1.844, p=0.001) and CCM score ≥1 (OR 1.58, p=0.014) (table). Conclusions Smoking and patients with multiple comorbidities represent health policy targets for lessening hospital burden of NCCP. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Liverpool University Hospital NHS Trust; North-West Educational Cardiac Group

Elevated Cardiac Troponin T in Patients with Lupus Myositis Presenting with Noncardiac Chest Pain

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presenting with chest pain pose a unique diagnostic challenge, with causes ranging from cardiopulmonary disease to esophageal disorders and musculoskeletal chest wall pain. The most common biomarkers for myocardial injury are cardiac troponin T and I (cTnT and cTnI) due to their high sensitivity for the early detection of myocardial infarction. In the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, cTnT is commonly elevated, and this reflects skeletal muscle breakdown rather than myocardial damage. Similar observations have not been reported in SLE myositis to date. We present two cases of patients with SLE and associated myositis who presented with chest pain and elevated cTnT. Both patients had a normal cTnI, transthoracic echocardiogram, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, likely indicating noncardiac chest pain. Clinicians should be aware that the specificity of cTnT might be lower in SLE myositis and that cTnI elevation may be more specific in detecting myocardial insult.