Role of telecardiology in the assessment of angina in patients with recent acute coronary syndrome.

We compared two models of assistance (telecardiology versus usual care) for patients discharged after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), in the assessment of angina. Two hundred patients were randomized into two groups at discharge for ACS: Group A to telecardiology and Group B to usual care. Early hospital readmission (in the first month) occurred in 16 patients (seven in Group A and nine in Group B). Six of Group A were readmitted for a cardiac cause (non-cardiac in one). Angina was the only cardiac cause. Five of the Group B patients were readmitted for a cardiac cause (non-cardiac in four). The results of the present study emphasize that patients with ACS suffer from a definite rate of cardiac symptoms within the first month (63%). Angina occurs more frequently within the first two weeks (68% of cases). Telecardiology slightly reduces hospital readmissions (telecardiology 44% versus usual care 56%), but better identifies true angina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]