Table 2.

Triage and Assessment of Young Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Chest Pain by Sex^*

Sample size National estimate	Women n=2319 n=16 880 659	Men n=1833 n=12 849 486	P value
Triage level, % (95% CI)			<0.001
Immediate/emergent	19.1% (15.8%–22.8%)	23.3% (19.3%–27.9%)
Urgent	38.0% (33.6%–42.8%)	39.6% (34.9%–44.6%)
Semiurgent/nonurgent	12.8% (10.0%–16.3%)	7.5% (5.5%–10.1%)
No triage	30.1% (23.4%–37.8%)	29.5% (23.5%–36.3%)
Diagnostic testing, % (95% CI)
BNP	6.6% (5.2%–8.3%)	8.7% (7.0%–10.8%)	0.032
Cardiac enzymes	20.6% (16.8%–25.1%)	22.9% (18.8%–27.5%)	0.203
D‐dimer	16.6% (14.2%–19.4%)	11.9% (9.8%–14.3%)	0.005
X‐ray	71.4% (68.0%–74.6%)	75.6% (72.8%–78.2%)	0.041
Electrocardiography	74.2% (71.0%–77.2%)	78.8% (76.1%–81.3%)	0.024
Cardiac monitor	24.9% (21.7%–28.5%)	30.0% (25.8%–34.5%)	0.004
CT chest	8.9% (7.6%–10.5%)	8.2% (6.8%–9.9%)	0.447
Toxicology screen	3.9% (2.9%–5.2%)	7.3% (5.9%–9.0%)	<0.001
No testing	24.6% (21.2%–29.0%)	22.3% (18.9%–26.3%)	0.058
Seen by consulting physician	8.5% (6.8%–10.5%)	12.3% (9.8%–15.0%)	0.001
Wait time to see provider, min, mean±SD †	48.1±82.1	37.2±61.8	<0.001

BNP indicates B‐type natriuretic peptide; and CT, computed tomography.

^*Percentages based on national estimates.

^† Means calculated among those with values >0; estimated number of emergency department visits for wait times were available: women: 14 706 262; men: 11 181 998.