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Validated risk scoring systems in African American (AA) population are under studied. We utilized history, electrocardiogram, age, risk factors, and initial troponin (HEART) and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) scores to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in non-high cardiovascular (CV) risk predominantly AA patient population.A retrospective emergency department (ED) charts review of 1266 chest pain patients where HEART and TIMI scores were calculated for each patient. Logistic regression model was computed to predict 6-week and 1-year MACE and 90-day cardiac readmission. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was constructed to differentiate between clinical strategies in non-high CV risk patients.Of the 817 patients included, 500 patients had low HEART score vs. 317 patients who had moderate HEART score. Six hundred sixty-three patients had low TIMI score vs. 154 patients had high TIMI score. The univariate logistic regression model shows odds ratio of predicting 6-week MACE using HEART score was 3.11 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-6.76, P = .004) with increase in risk category from low to moderate vs. 2.07 (95% CI 1.18-3.63, P = .011) using TIMI score with increase in risk category from low to high and c-statistic of 0.86 vs. 0.79, respectively. DCA showed net benefit of using HEART score is equally predictive of 6-week MACE when compared to TIMI.In non-high CV risk AA patients, HEART score is better predictive tool for 6-week MACE when compared to TIMI score. Furthermore, patients presenting to ED with chest pain, the optimal strategy for a 2% to 4% miss rate threshold probability should be to discharge these patients from the ED.

Objective: To examine racial differences in outcomes with coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) vs standard emergency department (ED) evaluation for chest pain., Design: Retrospective analysis of the prospective, randomized, multicenter Rule Out Myocardial Ischemia/Infarction by Computer Assisted Tomography (ROMICAT-II) trial., Setting: ED at nine hospitals in the United States., Participants: 940 patients who were Caucasian or African American (AA) presenting to the ED with chest pain., Interventions: CCTA or standard ED evaluation., Main Outcome Measures: Length of stay, hospital admission, direct ED discharge, downstream testing and repeat ED visit or hospitalization for recurrent chest pain at 28 days. Safety end points: missed acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and cumulative radiation exposure during the index visit and follow-up period., Results: 659 (66%) patients self-identified as Caucasian and 281 (28%) self-identified as AA. AA were younger and more often female compared with Caucasians, had a higher prevalence of hypertension (64% vs 49%, P<.001) and diabetes (23% vs 14%, P<.001) and a lower prevalence of hyperlipidemia (28% vs 51%, P<.001). ACS was more frequent among Caucasians (10% vs 2%, P<.001). Randomization to CCTA resulted in a reduction in median LOS for Caucasians (7.4 vs 24.7 hours, P<.001) and AA (8.9 vs. 26.3, P<.001; P-interaction=.88). Both AA and Caucasian patients experienced greater radiation exposure and more downstream testing with CCTA compared with standard evaluation., Conclusions: Early CCTA reduced median LOS for both AA and Caucasian patients presenting to the ED with chest pain by approximately 17 hours compared with standard evaluation., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: None declared.

Objective: To assess the relationship between reported chest pain symptoms and a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and serious cardiopulmonary diagnoses (SCPD) in black males, white males, black females and white females., Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of 4162 ED patients with chest pain enrolled between 1999 and 2008. We used logistic regression, adjusting for age and cardiovascular comorbidities to test the association between 24 chest pain symptoms and 30-day ACS for the primary outcome and SCPD as the secondary outcome., Result: In black males, diaphoresis was associated with ACS (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.13), while in white males, left arm radiation, pressure/tightness and substernal pain were associated with ACS (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.59; OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.59; OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.11, respectively). In black females, diaphoresis, palpitations and left arm radiation were associated with ACS (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.35; 1.66, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.45; 1.44, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.03, respectively) while pleuritic pain, and left anterior chest pain lowered ACS risk (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.96; 0.54, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.84). No symptoms predicted ACS or SCPD in white females. Fewer but similar symptoms predicted SCPD in white males and black females. No symptoms predicted SCPD in black males., Conclusion: Chest pain symptoms are important predictors of ACS and SCPD in certain combinations of race and gender but less so in others. These differences might explain difficulties using symptoms to identify patients at higher or lower risk of ACS and SCPD in practice., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Background: Ethnicity, although known to influence cardiovascular outcome in assorted clinical settings, has not been investigated previously as a risk factor in patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected acute myocardial infarction., Methods: In this multi-ethnic cohort study conducted in Singapore and The Netherlands, 2784 patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain were enrolled (788 Caucasians, 1281 Chinese, 404 Indians and 311 Malays) and were followed up for 1 year., Results: Although Caucasian patients on average were older and had incurred more cardiovascular adverse events, the Asian ethnic groups carried a greater burden of cardiovascular risk factors. Caucasian and Malay patients were most frequently diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (Caucasians 11.2%, Chinese and Indians 6.4%, Malays 10.6%, P<0.001), also after correction for baseline differences. Chinese and Indian patients, however, more often had unstable angina. Asian patients had strikingly more extensive coronary artery disease than Caucasian patients (triple-vessel disease: Caucasians 6.5%, Chinese 22.8%, Indians 32.4%, Malays 32.8%, P<0.001) and Chinese patients with myocardial infarction more frequently underwent coronary revascularisation compared with Caucasian patients (Caucasians 41.4%, Chinese 67.5%, Indians 62.5%, Malay 46.7%, P=0.005). Ethnicity was not an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events during 1-year follow-up in all chest pain patients., Conclusions: The prevalence of myocardial infarction and unstable angina, revascularisation rate and extent of coronary artery disease differ significantly among chest pain patients of different ethnic groups. These findings have important clinical implications and support consideration of ethnicity in risk stratification and determination of the patient management strategy in patients with symptoms suggestive of myocardial infarction.

Background: To date there has been limited published data presenting the characteristics and timeliness of the management in an Emergency Department (ED) for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients presenting with chest pain. This study aimed to describe the presenting characteristics and processing times for CALD patients with chest pain compared to the Australian-born population, and current guidelines., Methods: This study was a cross sectional analysis of a cohort of patients who presented with chest pain to the metropolitan hospital between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2014., Results: Of the total study population (n=6640), 1241 (18.7%) were CALD and 5399 (81.3%) were Australian-born. CALD patients were significantly older than Australian-born patients (mean age 62 vs 56years, p<0.001). There were no differences in the proportion of patients who had central chest pain (74.9% vs 75.7%, p=0.526); ambulance utilisation (41.7% vs 41.1%, p=0.697); and time to initial treatment in ED (21 vs 22min, p=0.375). However, CALD patients spent a significantly longer total time in ED (5.4 vs 4.3h, p<0.001). There was no difference in guideline concordance between the two groups with low rates of 12.5% vs 13%, p=0.556. Nonetheless, CALD patients were 22% (95% CI, 0.65, 0.95, p=0.015) less likely to receive the guideline management for chest pain., Conclusions: The initial emergency care was equally provided to all patients in the context of a low rate of concordance with three chest pain related standards from the two guidelines. Nonetheless, CALD patients spent a longer time in ED compared to the Australian-born group., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Few studies have investigated the quality of pre-hospital care by ethnicity. We aimed to investigate ethnic differences in pre-hospital ambulance care of patients with suspected cardiac pain., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of retrospective electronic clinical data for patients with suspected cardiac pain over one year (August 2011 to July 2012) extracted from a single regional ambulance service. This included patient demographic data, clinical measurements, drugs administered and outcomes, such as transportation to hospital or referral to primary care. We used multivariate regression to investigate differences in care by ethnicity comparing non-White with White patients., Results: There were 7046 patients with suspected cardiac pain, with 4825 who had ethnicity recorded including 4661 (96.6%) White and 164 (3.4%) non-White. After correcting for age, sex, socio-economic status and whether transported to hospital, non-White patients were significantly more likely to have temperature [odds ratio (OR) 2.96, P = 0.007], blood glucose (OR 3.95, P = 0.003), respiratory rate (OR 4.94, P = 0.03) and oxygen saturation (OR 2.43, P = 0.006) recorded. Non-White patients were significantly less likely to be transported to hospital (OR 0.43, P = 0.03)., Conclusion: There were significant differences in pre-hospital ambulance care for non-White compared with White patients with suspected cardiac pain. These differences could be due to differences in clinical condition or case-mix, language and cultural barriers, limited understanding of appropriate use of health care services, recording bias or true differences in provider management. Further analysis should involve larger and more complete data sets to explore ethnic differences in greater detail., (© 2016 The Authors. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and chest pain is one of the most common symptoms of ACSs. A rapid response to chest pain by patients and appropriate management by health professionals are vital to improve survival rates.People from different ethnic groups are likely to have different perceptions of chest pain, its severity and the need for urgent treatment. These differences in perception may contribute to differences in response to chests pain and precipitate unique coping strategies. Delay in seeking medical care for chest pain in the general population has been well documented; however, limited studies have focused on delay times within ethnic groups. There is little research to date as to whether ethnicity is associated with the time taken to seek medical care for chest pain. Consequently, addressing this gap in knowledge will play a crucial role in improving the health outcomes of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients suffering from chest pain and for developing appropriate clinical practice and public awareness for these populations., Objectives: The current review aimed to determine if there is an association between ethnicity and delay in seeking medical care for chest pain among CALD populations., Inclusion Criteria Types of Participants: Patients from different ethnic minority groups presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with chest pain., Types of Exposure: The current review will examine studies that evaluate the association between ethnicity and delay in seeking medical care for chest pain among CALD populations., Types of Studies: The current review will consider quantitative studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, quasi-experimental, before and after studies, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies and analytical cross-sectional studies., Outcomes: The current review will consider studies that measure delay time as the main outcome. The time will be measured as the interval between the time of symptom onset and time to reach an ED., Search Strategy: A comprehensive search was undertaken for relevant published and unpublished studies written in English with no date restriction. All searches were conducted in October 2014. We searched the following databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, ProQuest (health databases only), Informit, Sociological Abstracts, Scopus and Web of Science. The search for unpublished studies included a wide range of 'gray literature' sources including national libraries, digital theses repositories and clinical trial registries. We also targeted specific health research, specialist cardiac, migrant health, and emergency medicine organizational websites and/or conferences. We also checked the reference lists of included studies and contacted authors when further details about reported data was required to make a decision about eligibility., Methodological Quality: Papers selected for retrieval were assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological validity prior to being included in the review. Validity was assessed using standardized critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Adjudication was produced by the third reviewer., Data Extraction: Data were extracted from included articles by two independent reviewers using the standardized data extraction tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute., Data Synthesis: The extracted data were synthesized into a narrative summary. Meta-analysis could not be performed due to the heterogeneity of study protocols and methods used to measure outcomes., Results: A total of 10 studies, with a total of 1,511,382 participants, investigating the association between ethnicity and delay met the inclusion criteria. Delay times varied across ethnic groups, including Black, Hispanic, Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Chinese. Seven studies reported delay in hours and ranged from 1.90 to 3.10 h. Delay times were longer among CALD populations than the majority population. The other three studies reported delay time in categories of time (e.g. <1, <4 and <6 h) and found larger proportions of later presentations to the EDs among ethnic groups compared with the majority groups., Conclusion: There is evidence of an association between ethnicity and time taken in seeking medical care for chest pain, with patients from some ethnic minorities (e.g. Black, Asian, Hispanic and South Asian) taking longer than those of the majority population. Health promotions and health campaigns focusing on these populations are indicated.

Blacks have higher mortality and hospitalization rates because of congestive heart failure compared with white counterparts. Differences in cardiac structure and function may contribute to the racial disparity in cardiovascular outcomes. Our aim was to compare computed tomography (CT)-derived cardiac measurements between black patients with acute chest pain and age- and gender-matched white patients. We performed a retrospective analysis under an institutional review board waiver and in Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance. We investigated patients who underwent cardiac dual-source CT for acute chest pain. Myocardial mass, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, LV end-systolic volume, and LV end-diastolic volume were quantified using an automated analysis algorithm. Septal wall thickness and cardiac chamber diameters were manually measured. Measurements were compared by independent t test and linear regression. The study population consisted of 300 patients (150 black-mean age 54 ± 12 years; 46% men; 150 white-mean age 55 ± 11 years; 46% men). Myocardial mass was larger for blacks compared with white (176.1 ± 58.4 vs 155.9 ± 51.7 g, p = 0.002), which remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, and hypertension. Septal wall thickness was slightly greater (11.9 ± 2.7 vs 11.2 ± 3.1 mm, p = 0.036). The LV inner diameter was moderately larger in black patients in systole (32.3 ± 9.0 vs 30.1 ± 5.4 ml, p = 0.010) and in diastole (50.1 ± 7.8 vs 48.9 ± 5.2 ml, p = 0.137), as well as LV end-diastolic volume (134.5 ± 42.7 vs 128.2 ± 30.6 ml, p = 0.143). Ejection fraction was nonsignificantly lower in blacks (67.1 ± 13.5% vs 69.0 ± 9.6%, p = 0.169). In conclusion, CT-derived myocardial mass was larger in blacks compared with whites, whereas LV functional parameters were generally not statistically different, suggesting that LV mass might be a possible contributing factor to the higher rate of cardiac events in blacks., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Racial and ethnic disparities in hospital readmissions for several major illnesses and conditions are well-documented. However, due to the data typically used to assess readmission disparities little is known regarding the interplay between race/ethnicity and payer in fostering readmissions. This study used a statewide database of acute-care hospital admissions to examine 30-day readmission rates following hospitalization for chest pain and heart failure byrace/ethnicity and insurance status., Methods: Connecticut hospital discharge data for patients admitted for Chest Pain-DRG 313 (n = 23,450) and Heart Failure and Shock-DRG 291 and 292 (n = 39,985) from 2008 - 2012 were analyzed using marginal logistic models for clustered data with generalized estimating equations., Results: Results from logistic models indicated that Black patients were significantly more likely to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge following hospitalization for chest pain (OR = 1.19, CI = 1.04, 1.37) than were White patients. Hispanics, but not Blacks, were significantly more likely to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge following hospitalization for heart failure (OR = 1.30, CI = 1.15, 1.47). Rates of 30-day readmission across these conditions were between 50-100% higher among those covered by Medicaid compared to those covered by private payer. Controlling for patient socioeconomic status, patient comorbidities, and payer substantially reduced Black/White differences in the odds of readmission for chest pain but did not reduce Hispanic-White differences for heart failure., Conclusions: Racial and ethnic disparities were seen in hospital readmission rates for Chest Pain (DRG 313) and Heart Failure and Shock (DRG 291 and 292) when a statewide database that captures all acute care hospital admissions was analyzed. When controlling for patient socioeconomic status, comorbidities, and payer status, the difference in the odds of readmission for chest pain, but not heart failure, was reduced.

Disparities in the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) between races may be influenced by differences in the thoracic adipose tissue. We compared computed tomography (CT)-derived volumes of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), mediastinal adipose tissue (MAT), and pericoronary fat thickness (PFT) and correlations with CAD between black and white patients. This institutional review board-approved Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant study included 372 age- and gender-matched black versus white patients (186 black, 54 ± 11 years, 50% men; 186 white, 54 ± 11 years, 50% men) who underwent CT for chest pain evaluation. EAT, MAT, and PFT were measured. The amount of coronary calcium was quantified as calcium score. CAD was defined as ≥50% coronary artery narrowing. EAT and MAT volumes were significantly lower in black than white patients (59 [twenty-fifth to seventy-fifth percentile 39 to 84] vs 97 [67 to 132] cm(3) and 44 [27 to 77] vs 87 [52 to 157] cm(3), for both p <0.001). Mean PFT in black patients was slightly lower than white patients (17.2 ± 3.2 vs 18.1 ± 3.4 mm, p <0.01). The relation between race and extent of adipose tissue remained significant after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Significant correlations were observed between EAT and MAT volumes and calcium score in black and white patients (r = 0.19 to 0.26, p <0.01). For both races, the level of thoracic fat measurements was higher in present versus absent coronary calcification. A greater amount of thoracic fat was found with obstructive CAD only in white patients. In conclusion, CT-derived measurements of thoracic fat differ between symptomatic black and white patients, suggesting a differential relation between thoracic adipose tissue and CAD pathophysiology by race., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: A dual antiplatelet regimen has been shown to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention. However, there is little information available on inhibition of platelet aggregation in patients with a prior coronary stent presenting with chest pain. This study evaluated the prevalence of hyporesponsiveness to clopidogrel and factors associated with this in patients presenting to our emergency department with chest pain who had previously undergone coronary stent placement and were prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy., Methods: Responsiveness to clopidogrel was evaluated in a cohort of 533 consecutive stented patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain. P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) and percent P2Y12 inhibition with clopidogrel were measured in all patients. Of 533 patients, 221 (41.6%) had PRU ≥ 230. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the relationship between hyporesponsiveness to clopidogrel (defined as PRU ≥ 230) and several potential risk factors, ie, gender, age, race, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, hypertension, smoking, chronic renal failure, and obesity., Results: There was a greater risk of hyporesponsiveness in African Americans than in non-African American patients (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.165), in patients with type 2 diabetes than in those without (adjusted OR = 2.109), and in women than in men (adjusted OR = 1.813), as well as a greater risk of hyporesponsiveness with increasing age (adjusted OR = 1.167 per decade)., Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of hyporesponsiveness to clopidogrel in patients presenting with chest pain and a prior coronary stent. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and African American race were the strongest predictors of hyporesponsiveness to clopidogrel, followed by gender and age.

Background: European research on ethnic variations in cardiovascular disease has mostly examined mortality endpoints using country of birth as a proxy for ethnicity. We report on chest pain and angina by ethnic group., Design and Methods: Retrospective cohort linking the Census 2001 for Scotland (providing 14 ethnic group categories) and hospital discharge/community and hospital deaths data. Directly age-standardized rates and rate ratios were calculated. Risk ratios were adjusted for age and then highest educational qualification of the individual using Poisson regression. Ratios were multiplied by 100 and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The reference was the White Scottish population (100). In the results below, the 95% CI excludes 100., Results: There was raised chest pain mortality/hospital discharge risk in Indian men (rate ratio 141.2), Other South Asian women (rate ratio 140.9), and Pakistanis (rate ratio 216.2 in men, 243.0 in women). Rate ratios were lowest in other White British (rate ratio 76.1 in men, 73.7 in women) and Chinese (rate ratio 67.6 in men, 76.7 in women). Adjustment for age and education attenuated, but did not abolish, differences in other White British (risk ratio from 73.5 to 83.5) and Pakistani (risk ratio from 209.0 to 198.2) male populations and increased them in most others, e.g. other South Asian men (from risk ratio of 128.9 to 140.1). Pakistani populations had the highest risk of angina (rate ratio 189.3 in men, 159.7 in women). Other White British (rate ratio 81.4 for men, 78.0 for women), Other White (rate ratio 89.6 men, 85.2 women), and Chinese (rate ratio 60.5 men, 67.4 women) had the lowest risk. Adjustment for education did not greatly alter these patterns., Conclusions: There were important ethnic variations. The results call for replication elsewhere in Europe and targeted prevention programmes and vigilant diagnosis and management by clinicians.

This study examined two types of potential sources of racial-ethnic disparities in medical care: implicit biases and time pressure. Eighty-one family physicians and general internists responded to a case vignette describing a patient with chest pain. Time pressure was manipulated experimentally. Under high time pressure, but not under low time pressure, implicit biases regarding blacks and Hispanics led to a less serious diagnosis. In addition, implicit biases regarding blacks led to a lower likelihood of a referral to specialist when physicians were under high time pressure. The results suggest that when physicians face stress, their implicit biases may shape medical decisions in ways that disadvantage minority patients.

Background: The incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is rapidly increasing among older adults in Korea. However, the factors associated with a delayed decision to visit a hospital and the reasons for this delay have not been explored adequately among older patients., Aims: To determine factors predicting a prehospital delay time of > 6 h and to identify the cognitive barriers in the delayed decision of AMI patients aged ≥ 65 years., Methods: This study adopted a mixed methodological approach using quantitative and qualitative analyses. The sample included 94 male and 71 female patients hospitalized for first-time AMI at a university hospital in Korea. Thematic content analysis was used to identify the themes from the qualitative interview data, and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to predict delayed hospital presentation by > 6 h., Results: The median prehospital delay time was 12 h. Low education level, presence of preinfarction angina pain, and attribution of symptoms to a non-cardiac origin were found to be the predicting factors. From the qualitative data, four meaningful themes including 10 subthemes that influenced the delayed decision were identified. Some culturally peculiar themes were found in this Korean sample., Conclusions: Educational strategies that focus on these cognitive decision-making barriers should be planned for elderly Korean at high risk for AMI.

Objectives: The Rose Angina Questionnaire (RAQ) is an important measure of coronary heart disease prevalence. It has been shown to perform inconsistently across some ethnic groups in Britain. This study investigates whether the best available versions of the RAQ in Punjabi and Cantonese were linguistically equivalent to the English version., Design: Interviews were carried out with lay people from the Pakistani, Chinese and European-origin communities in Scotland to assess the versions of the RAQ used in the Newcastle Heart Project (the best available versions). For each questionnaire item, participants were asked to elaborate on their understanding of the question and the meaning of keywords or phrases., Results: Problems were discovered with the Punjabi and Cantonese translations of the RAQ. For example, the translation for 'chest' was interpreted by some Pakistani and Chinese women to mean 'breasts'. 'Walking uphill' was translated in Chinese as 'walking the hill', without stipulation of the direction, so that some Cantonese speakers interpreted the question as pertaining to walking downhill. Many Chinese interpreted RAQ items to be referring to breathlessness rather than chest pain due to ambiguous wording., Conclusion: Existing versions of the RAQ are unlikely to be yielding data that are cross-culturally valid or comparable. For robust health survey research in languages other than that in which the questionnaire was developed, lay assessment of questionnaires prior to and after translation is a necessity rather than a luxury.

Purpose: To use coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography to compare the prevalence, extent, and composition of coronary atherosclerotic lesions in African American and white patients with acute chest pain., Materials and Methods: The institutional review board waived the requirement for informed consent for this retrospective, HIPAA-compliant matched-cohort study. The authors analyzed the CT angiographic data of 301 patients (150 consecutive African American patients; 151 white control patients; mean age, 55 years ± 11 [standard deviation]; 33% male) with acute chest pain. Each coronary artery segment was evaluated for presence of atherosclerotic plaque, plaque composition (calcified, noncalcified, or mixed), and stenosis. In addition, the noncalcified plaque volume was quantified by using a threshold-based automated algorithm. The presence and extent of atherosclerotic plaque were compared between the groups by using univariate and multivariate regression analyses., Results: While there was no significant difference between the African American and white patients with respect to presence of any plaque (118 [79%] of 150 vs 112 [74%] of 151 patients, respectively; P = .36) or presence of stenosis (26 [17%] vs 37 [24%] patients, respectively; P = .13), the African American patients had a significantly higher prevalence (96 [64%] vs 62 [41%] patients, respectively; P < .001) and volume (median volume, 2.2 vs 1.4 mL, respectively; P < .001) of noncalcified plaque, independent of diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors (odds ratio, 2.45; 95% confidence interval: 1.52, 4.04). In contrast, the African American patients had a lower prevalence of calcified plaque (39 [26%] vs 68 [45%] white patients, P = .001)., Conclusion: Study results suggest that atherosclerotic plaque burden and composition, as measured by using coronary CT angiography, differ between African American and white patients, with relatively more noncalcified disease in African Americans and more calcified disease in white individuals. Further research is warranted to determine whether CT plaque characterization can improve cardiac risk prediction in African Americans., (© RSNA, 2011.)

Objective: Observational studies can avoid biases by blinding medical records to characteristics of interest before outcome adjudication. However, blinding is costly. We assessed the effect of blinding race and geography on outcome ascertainment., Study Design and Setting: The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke - Myocardial Infarction (REGARDS-MI) Study is an ancillary study to the REGARDS national prospective cohort study including 30,228 participants. The primary characteristics of interest are race and geography, and the prespecified acceptable agreement rate between adjudicators is set at less than 80%. We selected 116 suspected cardiovascular events that underwent adjudication with usual blinding. At least 3 months later, cases were readjudicated without blinding race and geographic location of the patient. We assessed differences in outcome ascertainment using Cohen's kappa statistic and ARs., Results: Agreement between blinded and unblinded reviews was good to excellent for all four outcomes. kappa statistics were 0.80 (chest pain), 0.85 (heart failure), 0.86 (revascularization), and 0.74 (MI) (P<0.0001 for all). Within each outcome, ARs were similar for race and geographic groups (agreement: 83-100%)., Conclusion: In observational studies, blinding medical record review for outcome ascertainment for some types of patient characteristics may cause an unwarranted expense., (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study assessed whether sociodemographic differences exist in triage assignment and whether these differences affect initial diagnostic testing in the emergency department (ED) for patients presenting with chest pain., Methods: A nationally representative ED data sample for all adults (>or=18 years) was obtained from the National Hospital Ambulatory Health Care Survey of EDs for 1997-2006. Weighted logistic regression was used to examine the associations between race and presenting symptom, triage assignment, and test ordering, adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics., Results: Over 10 years, an estimated 78 million visits to the ED presented with a complaint of chest pain. Of those presenting with chest pain, African Americans (odds ratio [OR] = 0.70; 99% confidence interval [CI] = 0.53 to 0.92), Hispanics (OR = 0.74; 99% CI = 0.51 to 0.99), Medicaid patients (OR = 0.72; 99% CI = 0.54 to 0.94), and uninsured patients (OR = 0.65; 99% CI = 0.51 to 0.84) were less likely to be triaged emergently. African Americans (OR = 0.86; 99% CI = 0.70 to 0.99), Medicaid patients (OR = 0.70; 99% CI = 0.55 to 0.88), and uninsured patients (OR = 0.70; 99% CI = 0.55 to 0.89) were less likely to have an electrocardiogram (ECG) ordered. African Americans (OR = 0.69; 99% CI = 0.49 to 0.97), Medicaid patients (OR = 0.67; 99% CI = 0.47 to 0.95), and uninsured patients (OR = 0.66; 99% CI = 0.44 to 0.96) were less likely to have cardiac enzymes ordered. Similarly, African Americans and Hispanics were less likely to have a cardiac monitor and pulse oximetry ordered, and Medicaid and uninsured patients were less likely to have a cardiac monitor ordered., Conclusions: Persistent racial, sex, and insurance differences in triage categorization and basic cardiac testing exist. Eliminating triage disparities may affect "downstream" clinical care and help eliminate observed disparities in cardiac outcomes.

Objectives: To identify and describe disparities in the provision of Emergency Department (ED) care in pediatric patients presenting with chest pain (CP)., Patients and Methods: Nationally representative data were drawn from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). All ED visits with a chief complaint of CP and age <19 years from 2002 to 2006 were analyzed. The primary outcome variable was "Anytest" performed (defined as any combination of complete blood count, electrocardiogram, and/or chest x-ray). Univariable analyses were performed with "Anytest" as the dependent variable and patient characteristics as independent variables. Multivariable analysis was performed using logistic regression with the same independent patient characteristics., Results: Eight hundred eighteen pediatric CP visits representing 2 552 193 such visits nationwide were analyzed. Gender and metro/non-metro location were not associated with "Anytest." However, Caucasian patients (p = 0.01) and those with private insurance (p < 0.01) were significantly more likely to receive testing despite otherwise similar demographics and severity of illness. Multivariate analysis revealed race (p = 0.03), expected payer (p = 0.003), and triage level (p = 0.009) were significantly and independently associated with the frequency of testing performed., Conclusion: Disparities exist in the ED care of pediatric patients with CP. Identification of such variations is important and provides an opportunity for targeted interventions that ensure delivery of high-quality, cost-effective health care for children.

Study Objectives: The study aimed to determine whether aspirin therapy was differentially administered according to race, sex, or age in patients with undifferentiated chest pain who presented to an urban academic emergency department., Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study of patients older than 24 years who presented with chest pain between July 1999 and March 2002. Patients were grouped according to 30-day final diagnosis: acute myocardial infarction AMI, unstable angina USA, and non-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) chest pain. Data were analyzed using Fisher exact test and relative risk regression using the Gaussian estimating equation., Results: There were 4478 patient visits, of which 4470 (99.8%) had complete information. Mean age was 52.2 +/- 15.8 years. Blacks were 70.1% (n = 3135), whites 26.3% (n = 1175), and other 3.6% (n = 159). Women comprised 59.0% (n = 2639) of the patients. Aspirin therapy differed by race, sex, age, and final diagnosis. Patients who received aspirin were more likely to be white (60% vs 54%, P = .0009) or have an ACS diagnosis (82% vs 50%, P < .0001). By final diagnosis, there were no race, sex, or age differences for AMI or USA (P > .05). There were significant sex and age differences for non-ACS chest pain patients: men (53% vs 48% women, P = .0009) and older patients (>55 years, 60% vs 44% younger, P < .0001) had higher aspirin therapy due to administration to the patients with non-ACS chest pain., Conclusion: For patients with undifferentiated chest pain, overall race, sex, and age differences were explained by higher rates of aspirin administered to older men with non-ACS chest pain., (2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is thought to be the commonest cause of 'non-cardiac chest pain'. The use of proton-pump inhibitors resulting in improvement in the chest pain symptom would support this causal association., Objectives: To determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in non-cardiac chest pain and the response of chest pain to proton-pump inhibitor therapy., Methods: Patients with recurrent angina-like chest pain and normal coronary angiogram were recruited. The frequency and severity of chest pain were recorded. All patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and 48-h Bravo ambulatory pH monitoring before receiving rabeprazole 20 mg bd for 2 weeks., Results: The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease was 66.7% (18/27). The improvement in chest pain score was significantly higher in reflux compared to non-reflux patients (P = 0.006). The proportion of patients with complete or marked/moderate improvement in chest pain symptoms were significantly higher in patients with reflux (15/18, 83.3%) compared to those without (1/9, 11.1%) (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with 'non-cardiac chest pain' was high. The response to treatment with proton-pump inhibitors in patients with reflux disease, but not in those without, underlined the critical role of acid reflux in a subset of patients with 'non-cardiac chest pain'.

Introduction: Our objective was to examine gender, racial, and age differences in door-to-EKG time in patients diagnosed with non-cardiac chest pain., Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of adult patients with an explicitly stated chief complaint of chest pain at an urban, academic ED. Primary study outcome variable was time to initial EKG. Predictor variables included gender, race, and age., Results: The final sample consisted of 214 patients. The overall median time to EKG in this cohort of patients was 29 minutes. No difference in time to EKG was found between gender or racial category. Time to EKG was significantly greater for patients in age categories 18-39 and 40-59 when compared with subjects greater than 60 years old., Discussion: In this prospective cohort study of non-STEMI/ACS patients with a chief complaint of chest pain, there were no gender or racial disparities in door-to-EKG time.

Chest pain (CP) in children/adolescents is a common referral for the pediatric cardiologist. A group of 263 patients (141 males/122 females, mean age = 13.4 years, range = 5-22 years) with the primary complaint of CP underwent evaluation in the cardiac stress lab at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Echocardiograms at rest were obtained in 70% of patients with no significant cardiac abnormalities identified. Endurance time (EXT) and oxygen consumption (VO(2)/kg) were below predicted in 26% and 46%, respectively. Reactive airway disease (RAD) as a preexisting condition was reported in 19% of patients, but abnormal resting pulmonary function (PFTs) were found in 26% (n = 68), with 48/68 never having the diagnosis of RAD. At risk of overweight (BMI >85th percentile), was seen in 28% of the cohort, with 16% identified as being overweight (BMI >95th percentile). A significant difference in RAD (p < 0.01) was seen in African Americans (AA) and decreased EXT (p = 0.01) was seen in Hispanics (H). VO(2)/kg was significantly reduced in both AA and H (p < 0.01). These results identify both racial and age-related differences in the etiology of CP in children. Most importantly, true cardiac pathology is extremely rare. AOW, deconditioning, and respiratory compromise play important roles in CP. The need for comprehensive cardiopulmonary monitoring is emphasized by these findings.

Objective: To review studies comparing multiple acute coronary syndrome (ACS) symptoms in white and Latina women with and without diabetes., Methods: This empirical integrative review summarizes 8 studies and identifies the limitations of research to date., Results: There are conflicting results about acute coronary syndrome (ACS) symptoms in women with diabetes. Differences were found in associated ACS symptoms and symptom characteristics; however, some studies found no differences in frequency of chest pain by diabetic status. Diabetes is an independent predictor of "atypical" presentation of acute myocardial infarction in women, and research to date suggests that shortness of breath may be an important ACS symptom in women with diabetes., Conclusions: There is a paucity of literature on ACS symptoms in women, particularly Latina women, with diabetes, and results are inconclusive. Future research should examine the full range of ACS symptoms in multiethnic samples of women with diabetes.

Objective: To examine whether there are ethnic differences in the healthcare-seeking behaviour and management of patients with chest pain., Design: Prospective cohort of patients attending accident and emergency departments with chest pain., Setting: Hospitals in England and Wales from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2003., Participants: Patients with chest pain., Main Outcome Measures: Whether patients arrived by ambulance, whether they received thrombolysis and the time it took from symptom onset to arrive at hospital and receive thrombolysis., Results: South Asian patients were less likely to arrive by ambulance (age and sex adjusted odds ratio 0.64, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.69, p<0.001) regardless of admission diagnosis. Overall, they were more likely to receive thrombolysis (adjusted multivariable odds ratio 1.19, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.30, p<0.001) and the difference was more marked if they had non-specific ECG changes for heart disease rather than definite evidence of a myocardial infarction. There was no evidence of an important clinical delay in South Asians receiving thrombolysis after arrival at hospital., Conclusions: There are ethnic differences in healthcare-seeking behaviour and the way doctors manage South Asians with chest pain. The relative underuse of ambulances by South Asians may either reflect cultural differences or geographical proximity to hospitals. Doctors may have a lower threshold for giving thrombolytic therapy to South Asian men with chest pain possibly because they are aware of the increased risk of coronary heart disease in this population.

Unlabelled: The clinical spectrum of sickle cell disease (SCD) in the Arabian Peninsula varies widely. This is the first report in Yemeni children., Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was undertaken in Al-Wahada Teaching Hospital in Aden of children under 16 years with homozygous (SS) SCD., Results: Fifty-six (55%) were males. There were clinical manifestations in 20% by the age of 6 months and in 67%, 88% and 92% by 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. Dactylitis (hand-foot syndrome) was the most common presenting symptom and occurred in 54% of cases, followed by acute respiratory infections and other acute febrile illnesses. The main causes of hospitalisation were painful crisis (36%), anaemic crisis (16%) and acute chest syndrome (11%). Hepatomegaly was detected in 72% and splenomegaly in 40%. Cerebrovascular accident, cholelithiasis, hepatic crisis and leg ulcers each occurred in about 5% of patients. There was first- and second-degree consanguinity in 31% and 16%, respectively, of patients' families., Conclusion: SCD is a serious problem, affecting children in Yemen from an early age. Disease course and severity were similar to that in Africans and American blacks and some reports from western Saudi Arabia. A screening programme linked to comprehensive medical care and genetic counselling is required to improve management and quality of life.

Objectives: We examined whether symptoms of coronary heart disease vary between Black and White patients with coronary heart disease, whether presenting symptoms affect physicians' revascularization recommendations, and whether the effect of symptoms upon recommendations differs in Black and White patients., Methods: We interviewed Black and White patients in Pittsburgh in 1997 to 1999 who were undergoing elective coronary catheterization. We interviewed them regarding their symptoms, and we interviewed their cardiologist decision-makers regarding revascularization recommendations. We obtained coronary catheterization results by chart review., Results: Black and White patients (N=1196; 9.7% Black) expressed similar prevalence of chest pain, angina equivalent, fatigue, and other symptoms, but Black patients had more shortness of breath (87% vs 72%, P=.001). When we considered only those patients with significant stenosis (n=737, 7.1% Black) and controlled for race, age, gender, and number of stenotic vessels, those who expressed shortness of breath were less likely to be recommended for revascularization (odds ratio=0.535; 95% confidence interval=0.375, 0.762; P<.001), but there was no significant interaction with race., Conclusions: Black patients reported shortness of breath more frequently than did White subjects. Shortness of breath was a negative predictor for revascularization for all patients with significant stenosis, but there was no difference in the recommendations by symptom by race.

Study Objective: We describe physician perceptions of decision-making for acute coronary syndromes in the emergency department (ED) and the ways in which patient characteristics influence diagnosis., Methods: This is a qualitative analysis of semistructured interview data from physicians practicing at an ethnically diverse and lower-income London ED. All physicians working more than 3 shifts in the department during a 1-month period were approached for interview., Results: Four themes emerged from the interviews: (1) physicians emphasized the medical history when diagnosing acute coronary syndrome; (2) physicians reported communication barriers as an impediment to diagnosis; (3) physicians cited both epidemiologic data and cultural beliefs when explaining presentation differences between patient groups; (4) physicians interpreted patient complaints by comparing their clinical impressions to a "classic" or "textbook" norm., Conclusion: In most cases, physicians relied on the clinical history when making decisions for patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes. In reaching judgments, physicians elicited features of the presentation they thought were salient, interpreted those features in light of epidemiologic knowledge and cultural beliefs, and compared their overall impression of the patient to a "classic" or "textbook" norm. At each step, physicians' perceptions about patients influenced the data gathered and the interpretation of that data. In addition, the expected features of acute coronary syndrome were thought to differ for some patient groups. These results highlight the need for further research into the role of provider beliefs in medical decision-making.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to examine how physicians in the emergency department ask questions of patients presenting with chest pain and whether this varies by patient demographics., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. A survey was administered to adult emergency department patients presenting with chest pain after emergency physicians obtained the history and performed the physical examination. No identifying data were collected from the patients. In addition to demographics, patients were asked whether or not their physician asked them about factors related to coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction etiology., Results: A total of 308 of 332 patients (93%) participated. Patients had a mean age of 52 years, 54% were male, and 85% spoke English; classification by race was 31% African American, 28% white, 19% Hispanic, and 13% other. History taking did not differ by gender. Patients who reported being asked about the following were statistically significantly younger than those who reported not being asked: family history, other medical problems, smoking, cocaine use, and alcohol use. Nonwhite patients reported being asked about the following more frequently than white patients: smoking (94% vs. 84%), alcohol use (81% vs. 70%), and cocaine use (64% vs. 42%). In multivariate logistic regression controlling for age, nonwhite patients were more likely than white patients to be asked about smoking (odds ratio [OR], 2.79; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.26 to 6.19), cocaine use (OR, 2.49; 95% CI = 1.50 to 4.12), and alcohol use (OR, 1.77; 95% CI = 1.0 to 3.09)., Conclusions: The variability in questions about behavioral factors associated with chest pain etiology as reported by patients may indicate a possible cultural bias by physicians. Differences in risk identification may lead to differences in treatment decisions.

Purpose: To inform nurse practitioners (NPs) about the influence of culture on patients' responses to pain using the example of acute chest pain., Data Sources: Selected clinical and research articles on pain and culture and the authors' clinical experiences providing care across a variety of cultures., Conclusions: There is very little written and even fewer studies on the connection of culture and the response to acute chest pain. This topic needs more attention by nurse researchers. Implications for practice If NPs are not aware that some patients may not demonstrate behavior typically expected in acute myocardial infarction, they may miss the diagnosis and fail to treat or refer these patients for immediate treatment.

This study was conducted to establish race/ethnic-specific prevalence for 10 physical symptoms in American youths and to examine the extent to which socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms explained racial differences in those symptoms. This descriptive study was based on a cross-sectional analysis of survey data from Wave I of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health including a school-based sample of over 20,000 adolescents in Grades 7 through 12. Self-reported physical symptoms during the past 12 months were examined. White youths reported the highest frequency of headaches, musculoskeletal pain, and dizziness; feeling hot, chest pain, cold sweats, and urinary symptoms were more common in Black youths. The three symptoms reported by Whites remained significant after controlling for family income and depressive symptoms, whereas racial differences in the four symptoms prominent in Blacks were accounted for by family income and depressive symptoms. Findings highlight racial differences in symptom types and in psychosocial factors contributing to physical symptoms in adolescents and warn against health-care providers' stereotyping associations between physical symptoms and socioeconomic status.

Objectives: Most contemporary cardiac risk stratification tools have been derived and validated in mixed-race populations. Their validity in single-race populations has not been tested. The authors sought to compare the performance of a risk stratification tool between a mixed-race U.S. patient population and an Asian patient population., Methods: This study is an analysis of data from the Internet Tracking Registry for Acute Coronary Syndromes (i(*)trACS) registry of patients with chest pain presenting to the emergency departments of eight U.S. centers and one site in Singapore. The Acute Cardiac Ischemia Time-Insensitive Predictive Instrument (ACI-TIPI) was computed for included patients, and its performance in predicting acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was compared between patients from the United States and Singapore., Results: Of the 11,991 included patients, 1,120 experienced ACS. Although the ACI-TIPI demonstrated similar accuracy among groups (area under the curve, 0.729 [U.S.] vs. 0.719 [Singapore]; p = 0.5611), sensitivity and specificity were different when equal ACI-TIPI thresholds were considered. Recreating the logistic regression models used to create the ACI-TIPI showed similar results between the derived parameters and the parameters estimated for the U.S. group. In contrast, age older than 50 years (log-odds ratio [LOR], 0.107; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.518 to 0.713), male gender (LOR, 0.487; 95% CI = 0.149 to 1.122), and chest pain as a primary complaint (LOR, 0.237; 95% CI = 0.139 to 0.613) had little predictive power in patients from Singapore., Conclusions: Differences exist in presentation and factors associated with ACS among patients from the United States and Singapore that may affect the performance of risk stratification tools. These findings suggest that cardiac clinical decision rules need international validation.

Objective: To examine the association between a lifetime history of migraines and other headaches with and without aura and Rose angina and coronary heart disease (CHD)., Methods: Participants were 12,409 African American and white men and women from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, categorized by their lifetime history of headaches lasting > or =4 hours (migraine with aura, migraine without aura, other headaches with aura, other headaches without aura, no headaches). Gender-specific associations of headaches with Rose angina and CHD, adjusted for sociodemographic and cardiovascular disease risk factors, were evaluated using Poisson regression., Results: Participants with a history of migraines and other headaches were more likely to have a history of Rose angina than those without headaches. The associations were stronger for migraine and other headaches with aura (prevalence ratio [PR] = 3.0, 95% CI = 2.4, 3.7 and PR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.5, 2.7 for women; PR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.2, 3.9 and PR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.4, 3.9 for men) than for migraine and other headaches without aura (PR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2, 1.9 and PR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.6 for women; PR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.2, 2.9 and OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.0, 1.8 for men). In contrast, migraine and other headaches were not associated with CHD, regardless of the presence of aura., Conclusions: The lack of association of migraines with coronary heart disease suggests that the association of migraine with Rose angina is not related to coronary artery disease. Future research assessing other common underlying pathologic mechanisms is warranted.

Background: Hispanics have a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, most notably type 2 diabetes. However, in a large public hospital in Houston, Texas, Hispanic patients referred for cardiac stress testing were significantly more likely to have normal test results than were Whites or non-Hispanic Blacks. We undertook an exploratory study to determine if nervios, a culturally based syndrome that shares similarities with both panic disorder and anginal symptoms, is sufficiently prevalent among Hispanics referred for cardiac testing to be considered as a possible explanation for the high probability of a normal test result., Methods: Hispanic patients were recruited consecutively when they presented for a cardiac stress test. A bilingual interviewer administered a brief medical history, the Rose Angina Questionnaire (RAQ), a questionnaire to assess a history of nervios and associated symptoms, and the PRIME-MD, a validated brief questionnaire to diagnose DSM-IV defined affective disorders., Results: The average age of the 114 participants (38 men and 76 women) was 57 years, and the average educational attainment was 7 years. Overall, 50% of participants reported a history of chronic nervios, and 14% reported an acute subtype known as ataque de nervios. Only 2% of patients had DSM-IV defined panic disorder, and 59% of patients had a positive RAQ score (ie, Rose questionnaire angina). The acute subtype, ataque de nervios, but not chronic nervios, was related to an increased probability of having Rose questionnaire angina (P=.006). Adjusted for covariates, a positive history of chronic nervios, but not Rose questionnaire angina, was significantly associated with a normal cardiac test result (OR=2.97, P=.04)., Conclusion: Nervios is common among Hispanics with symptoms of cardiac disease. Additional research is needed to understand how nervios symptoms differ from chest pain in Hispanics and the role of nervios in referral for cardiac workup by primary care providers and emergency room personnel.

Objective: To analyse differences in the presentation and management of Bangladeshi and white patients with Q wave acute myocardial infarction (AMI)., Design: Prospective observational study., Setting: East London teaching hospital., Participants: 263 white and 108 Bangladeshi patients admitted with Q wave AMI., Main Outcome Measure: Character of presenting symptoms, their interpretation by the patient, and the provision of emergency treatment., Results: There were no significant differences between Bangladeshi and white patients in the time from pain onset to hospital arrival (arrival time 64.5 (117.5) minutes v 63.0 (140.3) minutes, p = 0.63), but once in hospital it took almost twice as long for Bangladeshi as for white patients to receive thrombolysis (median (interquartile range) door to needle time 42.5 (78.0) minutes v 26.0 (47.7) minutes, p = 0.012). Bangladeshis were significantly less likely than whites to complain of central chest pain (odds ratio (OR) 0.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03 to 0.38; p = 0.0006) or to offer classic descriptions of the character of the pain (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.74; p = 0.0118). These differences persisted after adjustment for age, sex, and risk factor profile differences including diabetes. Proportions of Bangladeshi and whites interpreting their symptoms as "heart attack" were similar (45.2% v 46.9%; p = 0.99)., Conclusions: Bangladeshi patients with AMI often present with atypical symptoms, which may lead to slower triage in the casualty department and delay in essential treatment. This needs recognition by emergency staff if mortality rates in this high risk group are to be reduced.

Background: African American patients are less likely to receive thrombolytic therapy and coronary revascularization than are white patients. Delay and clinical presentation may be keys to understanding differences in care., Objective: To determine how symptom recognition and perception influence clinical presentation as a function of race, we characterized symptoms and care-seeking behavior in African American and white patients seen in the ED with chest pain., Methods: The prospective study was conducted from April 1999 to September 1999 among patients who were seen in the ED and were admitted or observed in the ED Chest Pain Unit (n = 215). Interviews were conducted within 48 hours with a structured set of questions., Results: Thirty-one percent of white patients and 8.9% of African American patients were admitted with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (P =.001). African American patients were as likely as white patients to report "typical" objective symptoms but were more likely to attribute their symptoms to a gastrointestinal source rather than a cardiac source (P =.05). Of those patients with the final diagnosis of myocardial infarction (n = 45), 61% of African American patients attributed symptoms to a gastrointestinal source and 11% to a cardiac source, versus 26% and 33%, respectively, for white patients. The median prehospital delay for African American patients was 263 minutes (interquartile range, 120 to 756 minutes), similar to the 247 minutes for white patients (interquartile range, 101 to 825 minutes, P =.72), despite African American patients (80%) being more likely than white patients (66%) to perceive their symptoms as severe/life-threatening at onset (P =.05)., Conclusion: Racial differences in symptom perception exist. Although the proportion of objectively defined typical symptoms were similar, self-attribution was more often noncardiac in African American patients than in white patients. Self-attribution, in addition to objective clinical findings, is likely to influence caregiver diagnostic approaches and therefore therapeutic approaches, and merits further study.

Objective: Barriers to the use of emergency medical services (EMS) and patient delay in seeking care can limit the receipt or effectiveness of reperfusion therapies and the availability of prehospital emergency cardiac care. The Rapid Early Action for Coronary Treatment (REACT) trial was designed to determine the impact of a community intervention on use of EMS among demographic and clinical subgroups of patients with suspected acute cardiac ischemia., Methods: A randomized controlled community trial was conducted in 20 pair-matched communities in the United States. One community from each pair received an 18-month, multicomponent community education program. Data were collected at 44 participating hospitals during a four-month baseline period and throughout the 18-month trial, using medical record abstracts to collect information on mode of transport to the hospital and other sociodemographic and clinical variables. Eligible patients were persons aged > or = 30 years presenting with chest pain or discomfort to emergency departments (EDs) who were admitted and discharged with a cardiac-related diagnoses (ICD 410-414, 427-429, 440, 786.9)., Results: The net change in the odds of EMS use was an increase of 34% in intervention compared with control communities [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.34, 95% CI 1.07-1.67]. We observed greater increases in the odds of EMS use among patients who had chronic or other cardiac diagnoses (adjusted OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.18-1.99, and adjusted OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.17-1.97, respectively) than in those diagnosed as having acute ischemia (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.91-1.44). We observed greater increases in odds of EMS ulse in those who were retired (adjusted OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.29-2.04) or had systolic blood pressure (SBP) at or below 160 mm Hg upon presentation to the ED (adjusted OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.26-1.91 for SBP 100-160 mm Hg; 1.61, 95% CI 0.88-2.97 for SBP <100 mm Hg)., Conclusions: The REACT trial demonstrated a significant impact on the use of EMS among patients admitted to the hospital for suspected acute myocardial infarction, with greater increases among patients with chronic or other cardiac ICD-9 discharge diagnoses, those presenting with lower SBP, and retired persons.

Objective: One possible factor resulting in delays in using reperfusion therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the failure to recognize cardiac symptomatology early in certain subgroups of patients. These patients may undergo extensive evaluation for gastrointestinal or musculoskeletal complaints before it is recognized that they are suffering from an AMI., Methods: The records of patients (52% Black and 48% White; 49% male and 51% female) presenting to an urban teaching hospital with enzyme documented myocardial infarctions were retrospectively examined for traditional elements of atypia in their initial chest pain descriptions to the emergency department (ED). The rate of reperfusion therapy utilization was also determined for this group., Results: Of the patients meeting the study criteria (166 total), 43% were found to have atypical elements in the character of their pain description. This high prevalence of atypia also coincided with a low reperfusion intervention rate of 38%. In examining the subgroups, it appears that African Americans and women had the highest rates of atypical pain (56% and 46%, respectively) while also having the lowest utilization rates for reperfusion therapies (31% and 33%, respectively). This compares to rates of 48% for Whites and 60% for White males who had more typical chest pain., Conclusions: While no direct correlation can be drawn from the data, it has been suggested that atypical presentations may result in early failure to recognize myocardial infarction and cause delay in or prevent appropriate therapy. It is thought that chest pain should be de-emphasized as a part of the indication criteria for thrombolytics and emergent angioplasty.

Introduction: The character of chest pain (CP) is a major factor determining triage and admission for patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). Previous studies have found atypical descriptions in as little as 10-15% of patients with true myocardial ischemic pain. Atypical descriptions may be more prevalent in the Deep South of the United States because of cultural differences in the semantic description of pain., Methods: A retrospective study of patients presenting to the ED of a southern U.S. urban hospital with enzyme-documented myocardial infarction was conducted to determine the prevalence of atypical CP descriptions. A multivariate analysis of those patients with atypical pain descriptions was conducted to determine the independent demographic factors associated with these descriptions., Results: In a total of 77 subjects (56% black; 44% white) meeting the study criteria, 43% were found to have atypical elements in the character of their CP descriptions. Only the black race demographic was found to be significantly correlated with the atypical descriptions. The use of the descriptive term "sharp" accounted for nearly half of the atypical presentations., Conclusion: Regional differences in the description of the character of CP may result in misleading portrayals of ischemic heart disease in southern U.S. populations. These differences are associated with a higher prevalence of atypical CP because of semantic distinctions, such as the use of the term "sharp" as a descriptor of acuity rather than character or quality.

Background: Epidemiologic studies have reported differences in the use of cardiovascular procedures according to the race and sex of the patient. Whether the differences stem from differences in the recommendations of physicians remains uncertain., Methods: We developed a computerized survey instrument to assess physicians' recommendations for managing chest pain. Actors portrayed patients with particular characteristics in scripted interviews about their symptoms. A total of 720 physicians at two national meetings of organizations of primary care physicians participated in the survey. Each physician viewed a recorded interview and was given other data about a hypothetical patient. He or she then made recommendations about that patient's care. We used multivariate logistic-regression analysis to assess the effects of the race and sex of the patients on treatment recommendations, while controlling for the physicians' assessment of the probability of coronary artery disease as well as for the age of the patient, the level of coronary risk, the type of chest pain, and the results of an exercise stress test., Results: The physicians' mean (+/-SD) estimates of the probability of coronary artery disease were lower for women (probability, 64.1+/-19.3 percent, vs. 69.2+/-18.2 percent for men; P<0.001), younger patients (63.8+/-19.5 percent for patients who were 55 years old, vs. 69.5+/-17.9 percent for patients who were 70 years old; P<0.001), and patients with nonanginal pain (58.3+/-19.0 percent, vs. 64.4+/-18.3 percent for patients with possible angina and 77.1+/-14.0 percent for those with definite angina; P=0.001). Logistic-regression analysis indicated that women (odds ratio, 0.60; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.4 to 0.9; P=0.02) and blacks (odds ratio, 0.60; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.4 to 0.9; P=0.02) were less likely to be referred for cardiac catheterization than men and whites, respectively. Analysis of race-sex interactions showed that black women were significantly less likely to be referred for catheterization than white men (odds ratio, 0.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.2 to 0.7; P=0.004)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the race and sex of a patient independently influence how physicians manage chest pain.

While 10-30% of individuals with chest pain who undergo cardiac arteriography are found to have no demonstrable pathology, women are far more likely than men to have normal coronary arteries in the presence of angina. Black women, in particular, frequently seek medical attention for persistent episodes of chest pain. This cross-sectional study was designed to examine the potential role of psychological and social factors in relation to chest pain among black women. Among our population-based sample of 188 women, 48% reported experiencing chest pain. Seventeen of these cases met the Rose criteria for classification as cardiac pain while 74 of them reported pain not consistent with cardiac origin. A statistically significant difference was observed in the stress scores among the women; the highest stress scores occurred among those with Rose angina and the lowest scores were obtained from those women reporting no chest pain experiences (p < 0.001). There was no association detected between the presence and type of chest pain and psychosocial measures of depression and coping abilities. These results confirm the high rates of chest pain experienced among black women, and provide insight into the role of psychological factors that should be considered in the identification of treatment options.