查看文章

Background: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently released guidelines for the investigation of chest pain of recent onset. There is no published data regarding their impact on out-patient cardiac services.

Aim: This study was undertaken to assess the likelihood of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic (RACPC) patients and the resultant investigation burden if NICE guidance was applied.

Methods: Five hundred and ninety-five consecutive patients attending two RACPCs over 6 months preceding release of the NICE guidelines [51% male; median age 55 (range 22–94) years] were risk stratified using NICE criteria and the resultant investigations evaluated.

Results: One hundred and six (18%) patients had a likelihood of CAD <10%, 123 (21%) between 10% and 29%, 175 (29%) between 30% and 60%, 141 (24 …