TABLE 2.
Baseline Characteristics of the Acute Chest Pain Cohort, by AHCPR Risk Criteria
| Characteristic | Total No. (%) |
High Risk No. (%) |
Intermediate Risk No. (%) |
Low Risk No. (%) |
p Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | 2271 | 436 (19.2) | 1557 (68.6) | 278 (12.2) | |
| Mean age, yr (range) | 63 (21–101) | 68 (31–99) | 64 (22–101) | 48 (21–65) | <.001 |
| Sex (Male) | 1306 (57.5) | 242 (55.5) | 907 (58.3) | 157 (56.5) | 0.55 |
| Previous MI | 490 (21.6) | 130 (29.8) | 360 (23.1) | 0 (0) | <.001 |
| Previous NSTE ACS | 201 (8.9) | 62 (14.2) | 139 (8.9) | 0 (0) | <.001 |
| Previous stable angina | 679 (29.9) | 164 (37.6) | 515 (33.1) | 0 (0) | <.001 |
| Incidence cases | 1352 (59.5) | 211 (48.4) | 863 (55.4) | 278 (100) | <.001 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 336 (14.8) | 84 (19.3) | 247 (15.9) | 5 (1.8) | <.001 |
| Current smoking | 490 (21.6) | 91 (20.9) | 316 (20.3) | 83 (29.9) | 0.002 |
| Hypertension | 1039 (45.8) | 234 (53.7) | 756 (48.6) | 49 (17.6) | <.001 |
| Hypercholesterolemia* (>220 mg/dL) | 794 (35.0) | 138 (31.7) | 568 (36.5) | 88 (31.7) | 0.08 |
| Aspirin use (pre) | 395 (17.4) | 90 (20.6) | 298 (19.1) | 7 (2.5) | <.001 |
| Admitted | 2174 (95.7) | 430 (98.6) | 1500 (96.3) | 244 (87.8) | <.001 |
| Any ECG abnormality | 1257 (55.4) | 319 (73.2) | 877 (56.3) | 61 (21.9) | <.001 |
| LBBB | 102 (4.5) | 35 (8.0) | 66 (4.2) | 1 (0.4) | <.001 |
| Family history† of CAD | 588 (25.9) | 114 (26.1) | 395 (25.4) | 79 (28.4) | 0.56 |
| Mean (range) systolic BP at index date, in mm Hg | 153 (60–300) | 152 (60–300) | 154 (90–248) | 148 (105–220) | 0.009 |
| Mean (range) diastolic BP at index date, in mmHg | 87 (34–170) | 88 (38–170) | 87 (34–160) | 89 (50–155) | 0.08 |
Abbreviations: See previous table; BP = blood pressure, LBBB = left bundle branch block, MI = myocardial infarction, NSTE ACS = non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome,
*
Could not be determined in 484 (21.3%) of patients.
†
Family history of CAD: At least 1 parent with validated premature cardiovascular disease (before age 55 yr in a father or before age 65 yr in a mother).