Are there symptom differences in patients with coronary artery disease presenting to the ED ultimately diagnosed with or without ACS?
OBJECTIVE
Symptoms are compared among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) admitted to the emergency department with or without acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Sex and age are also assessed.


METHODS
A secondary analysis from the PROMOTION (Patient Response tO Myocardial Infarction fOllowing a Teaching Intervention Offered by Nurses) trial, an multicenter randomized controlled trial, was conducted.


RESULTS
Of 3522 patients with CAD, at 2 years, 565 (16%) presented to the emergency department, 234 (41%) with non-ACS and 331 (59%) with ACS. Shortness of breath (33% vs 25%, P = .028) or dizziness (11% vs 3%, P = .001) were more common in non-ACS. Chest pain (65% vs 77%, P = .002) or arm pain (9% vs 21%, P = .001) were more common in ACS. In men without ACS, dizziness was more common (11% vs 2%; P = .001). Men with ACS were more likely to have chest pain (78% vs 64%; P = .003); both men and women with ACS more often had arm pain (men, 19% vs 10% [P = .019]; women, 26% vs 13% [P = .023]). In multivariate analysis, patients with shortness of breath (odds ratio [OR], 0.617 [confidence interval [CI], 0.410-0.929]; P = .021) or dizziness (OR, .0311 [CI, 0.136-0.708]; P = .005) were more likely to have non-ACS. Patients with prior percutaneous coronary intervention (OR, 1.592 [CI, 1.087-2.332]; P = .017), chest pain (OR, 1.579 [CI, 1.051-2.375]; P = .028), or arm pain (OR, 1.751 [CI, 1.013-3.025]; P <.042) were more likely to have ACS.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with CAD, shortness of breath and dizziness are more common in non-ACS, whereas prior percutaneous coronary intervention and chest or arm pain are important factors to include during ACS triage.
Orvis School of Nursing, University of Nevada, Reno, Mail Stop 134, Reno, NV 89557, USA. mpelter@unr.edu
Michele M
MM
Pelter
Barbara
B
Riegel
Sharon
S
McKinley
Debra K
DK
Moser
Lynn V
LV
Doering
Hendrika
H
Meischke
Patricia
P
Davidson
Heather
H
Baker
Wei
W
Yang
Kathleen
K
Dracup
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors