TROPONIN-I POSITIVITY IN PATIENTS REFERRED TO RAPID ACCESS CHEST PAIN CLINIC
Abstract
Background: Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinics (RACPCs) are set up to access patients with new onsetchest pain (within the preceding three weeks), of possible cardiac origin. These patients are seen in theclinic within two weeks of referral and the attending physician takes a history, performs a routineclinical examination, and if clinically justified, a treadmill exercise test is performed according to BruceProtocol. Within the group of patients referred to the RACPC with new onset but otherwise stableangina, there is a potential overlap with patients who in fact may have an evolving acute coronarysyndrome, i.e., unstable angina. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Troponin-Ipositivity as an indicator of acute coronary syndrome. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive studyincluded 60 consecutive patients referred to the RACPC with history of recent onset chest pain (withinthe last three weeks) of possible cardiac origin and positive ETT or confirmed abnormal ischemic ECGat baseline. Troponin-I was measured in these patients. Results: Out of the total 60 patients, 8.33% ofthe patients referred to RACPC with new onset angina had positive cTnI. Conclusion: Point of care test(POCT) for cTnI can help to identify the high risk patient referred to RACPC.Keywords: Troponin-I, cTnI, Troponin-T, Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic, Angina, Unstableangina, Myocardial infarction, Non-ST elevation MI, Acute coronary syndromeReferences
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