Outcomes of patients admitted with high-sensitive cardiac troponin T levels meeting the new rule out criteria for myocardial infarction

Abstract

Abstract Background The 2020 ESC non-ST-elevation (NSTE) acute coronary syndromes (ACS) guidelines have adopted the paradigm that patients presenting with suspected NSTE-ACS and high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) values <99th percentile in a single test or small increment within 1/2 hours have a high negative predictive value for myocardial infarction (MI). Their management remains controversial. Purpose We examined the clinical outcomes and resource utilization of suspected NSTE-ACS patients who presented with hs-cTnT values meeting the early rule out criteria, but were nevertheless admitted. Methods Our single center retrospective cohort study included 4,263 visits for suspected NSTE-ACS triaged in the Emergency Room (ER), had hs-cTnT values that met the early rule-out criteria, and were admitted (Figure 1). Routine quality control and dedicated tests proved a coefficient of variance of <10% for hs-cTnT values <99th percentile (14 ng/L). Results There were no deaths in-hospital and at 30 days. Discharge diagnosis of MI was documented in 10 patients (∼0.2%). Median ER stay and hospital stay were 6 hours and 3 days, respectively. In hospital evaluation included 844 gated cardiac CT angiography (CTA), 580 SPECT heart scans, 101 ECG-exercise tests, and 178 coronary angiography, of which 70 (∼1.6% of cohort) culminated in percutaneous/surgical intervention. Conclusion Our findings highlight the high negative predictive value for MI applying the early rule out algorithm and supports a policy of ER discharge for further evaluation, sparing unnecessary and resource-consuming hospital admissions. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1