Table 1.
Characteristics of patients who come to the emergency department with acute chest pain, due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS; n = 130) or other causes (n = 504).
| ACS n (%) | Other causes n (%) | OR | 95% CI | |
| Age | ||||
| ≥ 80 years | 35 (26.9) | 86 (17.1) | 10 | 2.9 – 34 |
| 70 – 79 years | 39 (30.0) | 103 (20.4) | 9.3 | 2.8 – 31 |
| 60 – 69 years | 26 (20.0) | 98 (19.4) | 6.5 | 1.9 – 22 |
| 50 – 59 years | 22 (16.9) | 89 (17.7) | 6.1 | 1.8 – 21 |
| 40 – 49 years | 5 (3.8) | 54 (10.7) | 2.3 | 0.52 – 10 |
| < 40 years | 3 (2.3) | 74 (14.7) | 1.0 | - |
| Male | 83 (63.8) | 279 (55.4) | 1.4 | 0.96 – 2.1 |
| Smoking status | ||||
| Current | 29 (22.3) | 98 (19.4) | 1.3 | 0.78 – 2.3 |
| Former | 50 (38.5) | 155 (30.8) | 1.5 | 0.91 – 2.3 |
| Unknown | 12 (9.2) | 74 (14.7) | 0.74 | 0.36 – 1.5 |
| Non-smoker | 39 (30.0) | 177 (35.1) | 1.0 | - |
| Hypertension | ||||
| Yes | 47 (36.2) | 114 (22.6) | 2.0 | 1.3 – 3.0 |
| Unknown | 8 (6.2) | 27 (5.4) | 1.4 | 0.63 – 3.3 |
| No | 75 (57.7) | 363 (72.0) | 1.0 | - |
| Diabetes | 19 (14.6) | 57 (11.3) | 1.3 | 0.77 – 2.4 |
| Angina pectorisa | ||||
| Yes, ≤ 1 month | 4 (3.1) | 5 (1.0) | 3.8 | 1.0 – 15 |
| Yes, > 1 month | 56 (43.8) | 174 (34.5) | 1.5 | 1.0 – 2.3 |
| No | 68 (53.1) | 325 (64.5) | 1.0 | - |
| Congestive heart failure | 20 (15.4) | 79 (15.7) | 0.98 | 0.57 – 1.7 |
| Previous myocardial infarction | ||||
| Yes, ≤ 6 months | 13 (10.0) | 19 (3.8) | 3.2 | 1.5 – 6.8 |
| Yes, > 6 months | 37 (28.5) | 107 (21.2) | 1.6 | 1.0 – 2.6 |
| No | 80 (61.5) | 378 (75.0) | 1.0 | - |
| Previous PCI | 4 (3.1) | 21 (4.2) | 0.73 | 0.25 – 2.2 |
| Previous CABG | 10 (7.7) | 55 (10.9) | 0.68 | 0.34 – 1.4 |
| Treated with cardiac drugsb | 85 (65.4) | 282 (56.0) | 1.5 | 0.99 – 2.2 |
| Chest discomfort at presentation | 85 (65.4) | 238 (47.2) | 2.1 | 1.4 – 3.2 |
| Symptom durationc | ||||
| 0 – 6 h | 100 (76.9) | 261 (52.0) | 5.4 | 2.7 – 11 |
| 7 – 12 h | 16 (12.3) | 59 (11.8) | 3.8 | 1.6 – 8.8 |
| 13 – 24 h | 4 (3.1) | 42 (8.4) | 1.3 | 0.40 – 4.5 |
| > 24 h | 10 (7.7) | 140 (27.9) | 1.0 | - |
| Tachypnea | 13 (10.0) | 27 (5.4) | 2.0 | 0.98 – 3.9 |
| Lung rales | 12 (9.2) | 23 (4.6) | 2.1 | 1.0 – 4.4 |
| Systolic bp < 100 mmHgd | 4 (3.1) | 4 (0.8) | 3.9 | 0.97 – 16 |
| Diastolic bp < 70 mmHge | 16 (12.9) | 36 (7.3) | 2.0 | 1.0 – 3.7 |
| Heart ratef | ||||
| > 120 bpm | 4 (3.1) | 12 (2.4) | 1.3 | 0.41 – 4.1 |
| < 50 bpm | 3 (2.3) | 10 (2.0) | 1.2 | 0.32 – 4.3 |
| 50 – 120 bpm | 123 (94.6) | 480 (95.6) | 1.0 | - |
a Data on angina pectoris were missing for two patients with ACS.
b ACE-inhibitors, ASA, Calcium antagonists, Betablockers, Long-acting Nitrates or Diuretics.
c Data on symptom duration were missing for two patients without ACS.
d Data on systolic blood pressure were missing for 8 patients (one with and 7 without ACS).
e Data on diastolic blood pressure were missing for 15 patients (6 with and 9 without ACS).
f Data on heart rate were missing for 2 patients without ACS.