title: Assessing the need for functional diagnostic testing in low-risk women with chest pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the need for functional diagnostic testing to identify coronary artery disease (CAD) in women presenting with chest pain and deemed at low risk in a chest pain evaluation unit (CPEU) setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Low-risk women evaluated in a CPEU were defined as having < or =1 intermediate determinant of CAD (hypertension, tobacco use, or hypercholesterolemia) or < or =2 minor determinants (age, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, or family history of CAD). Patients were followed for 30 days for the occurrence of CAD, defined as a positive stress imaging study, significant CAD on angiography, myocardial revascularization, myocardial infarction (MI), or cardiac death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1355 consecutive women evaluated, 527 (39%) were classified as low risk. The rate of CAD in the low-risk group was 1.3% of which there were no coronary events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women admitted to a CPEU and identified as low risk are at very low risk for CAD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817, USA. dbdiercks@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Deborah B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Diercks
authors.forename: J Douglas
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Samuel D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Turnipseed
authors.forename: Ezra A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Amsterdam