Clinical features of pericarditis with and without myocardial involvement diagnosed in the emergency department and factors associated with need for hospitalization

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the clinical features of acute pericarditis diagnosed in the emergency department according to patient age and myocardial involvement (myopericarditis) and to determine factors associated with hospitalization.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective, descriptive, observational, single-center study of consecutive patients. We analyzed all cases of pericarditis diagnosed in the emergency department over a period of 10 years (2008-2017), reviewing clinical, electrocardiographic, and laboratory findings as well as ultrasound imaging for myocardial involvement. Characteristics were analyzed by age (under 50 years or 50 or older) and presence or not of myocardial involvement. Factors associated with hospitalization for both pericarditis and myopericarditis were identified by crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs).

RESULTS

A total of 983 patients were diagnosed with pericarditis (34% women, mean age, 42 years). The younger patients more often reported sharp chest pain modified by breathing or posture changes. Older patients had more concurrent cardiovascular disease and described chest pain as pressure (oppressive); acute coronary syndrome was suspected more often in the older patients. The only independent predictor of myopericarditis was a finding of electrocardiographic abnormalities, recorded in 72 cases (7%) (OR, 4.26; 95% CI, 1.89-9.59). Sixty-two patients (6%) were admitted for pericarditis. Associated factors were renal insufficiency (OR, 4.83; 95% CI, 1.66-14.05), pain modified by breathing or posture changes (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.29-0.99), tachycardia (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.15- 4.55), and myopericarditis (OR, 8.73; 95% CI, 4.65-16.38). Admission of 24 patients (33%) for myocarditis was related to focused cardiac ultrasound findings (OR, 13.72; 95% CI, 1.80-104).

CONCLUSION

Age may affect the presentation of pericarditis. ST segment abnormalities on an electrocardiogram suggest myocardial involvement. Renal insufficiency, tachycardia, and myocardial involvement are the factors associated with a decision to admit patients with pericarditis. Ultrasound findings are associated with admission for myopericarditis.

Comparison of two strategies in a chest pain unit: stress echocardiography and multidetector computed tomography

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare stress echocardiography (SE) and multidetector computed tomography (MCT) in patients admitted to a chest pain unit to detect acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS

A total of 203 patients with ≥ 1 cardiovascular risk factor, no ischemic electrocardiogram changes and negative biomarkers were randomized to SE (n=103) or MTC (n=100). The primary endpoint was a combination of hard events (death and nonfatal myocardial infarction), revascularizations, and readmissions during follow-up. The secondary endpoint was the cost of the 2 strategies.

RESULTS

Invasive angiography was performed in 61 patients (34 [33%] in the SE group and in 27 [27%] in the MCT group, P=.15). A final diagnosis of ACS was made in 53 patients (88% vs 85%, P=.35). There were no significant differences between groups in the primary endpoint (42% vs 41%, P=.91), or in hard events (5% vs 7%, P=.42). There were no significant differences in overall cost, but costs were lower in patients with negative SE than in those with negative MCT (€557 vs €706, P <.02).

CONCLUSIONS

No significant differences were found in efficacy and safety for the stratification of patients with a low to moderate probability of ACS admitted to a chest pain unit. The cost of the 2 strategies was similar, but cost was significantly lower for SE on comparison of negative studies.

Changes in cases of nontraumatic chest pain treated in a chest pain unit over the 10-year period of 2008-2017

OBJECTIVES

To analyze changes in the characteristics of consecutively treated patients attended in the chest pain unit of a hospital emergency department over a 10-year period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All patients presenting with nontraumatic chest pain (NTCP) were included. We analyzed changes over time in epidemiologic characteristics, initial diagnostic classification (on clinical and electrocardiographic evaluation), final diagnosis (on discharge), and time until these diagnoses.

RESULTS

A total of 34 552 consecutive patients with a mean (SD) age of 59 (13) years were included; 42% were women. The annual number of visits rose over time. Visits were fewer in summer and more numerous on workdays and between the hours of 8 AM and 4 PM (P<.001, both comparisons). The number of women increased over time (up 0.29% annually, P<.05) as did the number of patients under the age of 50 years (up 0.92% annually, P<.001). With time, patients had fewer cardiovascular risk factors and less often had a history of ischemic heart disease. Fewer cases of NTCP had signs suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ACS was ruled out at the time of initial and final diagnoses in 52.2% and 80.4%, respectively, and these percentages which rose over the 10-year period by 1.86% (P<.001) and 0.56% (P=.04). Time to initial diagnosis did not change. However, time to final diagnosis did increase (P<.001), and the delay was longer in patients diagnosed with ACS (P<.001).

CONCLUSION

The chest pain unit was more active at the end of the period, in keeping with the increase in patients with NTCP whose characteristics were not typical of coronary disease. The percentages of patients initially and finally diagnosed with ACS decreased with time.

Nontraumatic chest pain and suspicion of acute coronary syndrome: associated clinical and electrocardiographic findings on initial evaluation

OBJECTIVES

To analyze clinical data and electrocardiographic (ECG) findings obtained during the initial evaluation of patients with nontraumatic chest pain (NTCP). To explore associations between these findings and the initial and final diagnoses of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). To assess which variables initially over- or underestimate risk ACS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Consecutive patients with NTCP attended in a chest pain unit during the 10-year period of 2008-2017 were included if the suspected and discharge diagnoses of interest (ACS or non-ACS) had been recorded. Thirtythree independent variables (demographic, 2; cardiovascular, 5; chest pain, 22; ECG, 4). We included all variables in models to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) between each independent variable and the initial and final diagnoses. The adjusted ORs were compared to determine whether the initial and final diagnoses of ACS differed significantly in relation to the variables.

RESULTS

A total of 34 552 patient visits were attended. The ORs for the 33 variables were significantly associated with initial and final NTCP classification as ACS or non-ACS, and in many cases the association was confirmed by the adjusted ORs. The adjusted ORs for 19 variables were significantly different in their relation to the initial and final diagnoses of ACS: 10 overpredicted the probability of the diagnosis and 9 underpredicted it.

CONCLUSION

The variables traditionally used to warn of ACS in emergency patients with NTCP identify individuals likely to be initially and finally diagnosed with ACS. However, some of these variables overestimate or underestimate the risk of a final ACS diagnosis. Emergency medicine physicians should be aware of variables associated with underestimation of risk.