Troponin-I positivity in patients referred to rapid access chest pain clinic

ABSTRACT

Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinics [RACPCs] are set up to access patients with new onset chest pain [within the preceding three weeks], of possible cardiac origin. These patients are seen in the clinic within two weeks of referral and the attending physician takes a history, performs a routine clinical examination, and if clinically justified, a treadmill exercise test is performed according to Bruce Protocol. Within the group of patients referred to the RACPC with new onset but otherwise stable angina, there is a potential overlap with patients who in fact may have an evolving acute coronary syndrome, i.e., unstable angina. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Troponin-I positivity as an indicator of acute coronary syndrome. This cross-sectional descriptive study included 60 consecutive patients referred to the RACPC with history of recent onset chest pain [within the last three weeks] of possible cardiac origin and positive ETT or confirmed abnormal ischemic ECG at baseline. Troponin-I was measured in these patients. Out of the total 60 patients, 8.33% of the patients referred to RACPC with new onset angina had positive cTnI. Point of care test [POCT] for cTnI can help to identify the high risk patient referred to RACPC