title: Usefulness of chest pain character and location as diagnostic indicators of an acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: This study assessed chest pain locations/symptoms among patients who presented with acute chest pain and how these compare with a clinical diagnosis of cardiac or noncardiac chest pain. A cluster analysis was undertaken to determine any pattern in the chest pain locations described by patients. Cluster analysis identified 4 distinct chest pain locations (upper chest, central retrosternal, central chest, and left chest and left arm). There was considerable location/symptom overlap between patients who had cardiac chest pain and those who had noncardiac chest pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia. eslickg@med.usyd.edu.au <eslickg@med.usyd.edu.au>
authors.forename: Guy D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Eslick
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013577:Syndrome