Table 1. Patient and population characteristics of study population (n = 303).
| Variable | n (%) | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Male | 148 (48.8) | – |
| Female | 155 (51.2) | ||
| Age, years | ≤30 | 15 (5.0) | Mean age, years (range): 58.3 (17–100) |
| 31–40 | 25 (8.3) | ||
| 41–50 | 47 (15.5) | ||
| 51–60 | 78 (25.7) | ||
| 61–70 | 74 (24.4) | ||
| 71–80 | 43 (14.2) | ||
| >80 | 21 (6.9) | ||
| Type of contact(missing data n = 1) | Consultation, daytime, own GP | 139 (46.0) | 150 patients (49.7%) seen by their own GP during office hours, 152 patients (50.3%) seen by GP on call at OOH service |
| Home visit, daytime, own GP | 11 (3.6) | ||
| Consultation, OOH service | 146 (48.3) | ||
| Home visit, OOH service | 6 (2.0) | ||
| History | No DM2 or prior CVD | 179 (59.1) | – |
| DM2 | 22 (7.3) | ||
| Prior CVD | 90 (29.7) | ||
| DM2 and prior CVD | 12 (4.0) | ||
| Duration of complaints at presentation, hours(missing data n = 6) | 0–1 | 32 (10.8) | – |
| 2–3 | 83 (27.9) | ||
| 4–6 | 62 (20.9) | ||
| 7–12 | 52 (17.5) | ||
| 13–24 | 68 (22.9) | ||
| eGFR, ml/min(missing data n = 49) | ≤30 | 3 (1.2) | – |
| 31–60 | 42 (16.5) | ||
| >60 | 09 (82.3) | ||
| ECG performed(missing data n = 1) | No | 50 (16.6) | – |
| Yes, no abnormalities | 152 (50.3) | ||
| Yes, with abnormalities | 100 (33.1) | ||
| Referral policy | No referral | 167 (55.1) | Overall referral percentage: 44.9% Overall direct referral percentage: 37.0% Overall referral percentage at later time: 7.9% |
| Direct referral on presentation to cardiologist | 107 (35.3) | ||
| Direct referral on presentation, other | 5 (1.7) | ||
| Referral at later time during follow-up, cardiologist | 20 (6.6) | ||
| Referral at later time during follow-up, other | 4 (1.3) | ||
| Troponin available | Troponin available (all patients) | 267 (88.1) | |
| Troponin available (non-referred patients) | 171 (87.2) | ||
| Troponin available (referred patients) | 96 (89.7) |
CVD = cardiovascular disease. DM2 = type 2 diabetes mellitus. ECG = electrocardiogram. eGFR = estimated glomerular filtration rate. OOH service = out-of-hours service.