[Taking history in diagnosing coronary artery disease in the 21st century--wasting time or a valuable diagnostic tool?].
The relation of chest pain characteristics and other features of the history of disease to coronary angiograms was assessed in 551 patients with chest pain regarded as definite or probable stable angina pectoris. A standardised questionnaire was used to record demographic details and chest pain characteristics of interviewed patients. The differentiation between typical, atypical or nonanginal pain was based on classification proposed by Diamond. The indications for catheterization in each patient were determined at the discretion of the attending physician. All patients underwent diagnostic coronary angiography (clinically important coronary artery disease was defined as > 50 per cent narrowing of the diameter of at least one major vessel or > or = 50 per cent of the left main coronary artery).


CONCLUSIONS
Chest pain characteristics remains an effective tool for estimating probability of coronary artery disease.
Lewandowski
M
M
Klinika Choroby Wieńcowej Instytutu Kardiologii w Warszawie.
Szwed
H
H
Kowalik
I
I
Wita
K
K
Gackowski
A
A
Drozdz
J
J
Spring
A
A
Płońska
E
E
Nartowicz
E
E
Paluszkiewicz
L
L
Michalski
M
M
Malczewska
B
B
Górski
J
J
Demczuk
M
M
Klejnrok
A
A
Sas
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires