Correlation of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk score with extent of coronary artery disease in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the correlation of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk score with extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).


METHODS
We conducted a descriptive study among 200 consecutive patients admitted with ACS at Tabba Heart Institute, Karachi from June to December 2008. The TIMI risk score was stratified on seven standard variables. The extent of CAD was evaluated on angiography and significant CAD was defined as > or =70% stenosis in any one of the three major epicardial vessels.


RESULTS
The mean age of the sample was 58.53 +/- 10.64 years. Out of 200 patients, there were 142 (71%) patients with TIMI score < or =4 (low and intermediate TIMI risk score) and 58 (29%) patients with TIMI score >4 (high TIMI risk score). Patients with TIMI score >4 were more likely to have significant three vessel CAD (62%) versus those with TIMI risk score <4 (46.2%), (p < 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with high TIMI risk score were more likely to have severe multivessel CAD compared with those with low or intermediate TIMI risk score. Hence, patients with TIMI score >4 should be referred for early invasive coronary evaluation to derive clinical benefit.
Department of Cardiology, Tabba Heart Institute, Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Muhammad Shakir
MS
Lakhani
Faisal
F
Qadir
Bashir
B
Hanif
Salman
S
Farooq
Moinuddin
M
Khan
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy