Outcome of patients discharged from a coronary care unit with a diagnosis of "chest pain not yet diagnosed".
OBJECTIVE
To determine the outcome and 3-year mortality rate among patients discharged from a coronary care unit (CCU) with a diagnosis of "chest pain not yet diagnosed."


METHODS
Prospective observational cohort study.


METHODS
CCU in a university teaching hospital.


METHODS
All 158 eligible patients discharged from the CCU between August 1986 and December 1988. Of them, 27 refused to participate and 31 did not meet the inclusion criteria because of significant co-morbidity or transportation difficulties.


METHODS
Evaluation with maximal and thallium exercise stress testing and four major gastrointestinal (GI) investigations: 24-hour intraesophageal pH monitoring, upper GI endoscopy with biopsy, esophageal motility studies and an upper GI barium series.


METHODS
Results of investigations and incidence of recurrent chest pain, CCU readmission, coronary angiography, coronary artery bypass surgery, myocardial infarction and death at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after the index visit.


RESULTS
Of the patients enrolled in the study 79% (79/100) had a normal exercise thallium stress test result, 74% (68/92) had an abnormal result from the 24-hour pH monitoring, 87% (82/94) had abnormal endoscopic results, 90% (84/93) had abnormal manometric results, and 89% (83/93) had signs of reflux with the barium series. At 3 years 50 patients had recurrent chest pain and 3 underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. Three patients died over the 3 years, all of noncardiac causes.


CONCLUSIONS
Many patients discharged from the CCU with a diagnosis of chest pain not yet diagnosed have a high incidence of esophageal disorders and a very low 3-year mortality rate. More research into the early and effective identification and management of patients with such a diagnosis is needed.
Panju
A
A
Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.
Farkouh
M E
ME
Sackett
D L
DL
Waterfall
W
W
Hunt
R
R
Fallen
E
E
Somers
S
S
Stevenson
G
G
Walter
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence