Clinical Research
Biomarkers
2-Hour Accelerated Diagnostic Protocol to Assess Patients With Chest Pain Symptoms Using Contemporary Troponins as the Only Biomarker: The ADAPT Trial

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2012.02.035Get rights and content
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Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a new accelerated diagnostic protocol (ADP) for possible cardiac chest pain could identify low-risk patients suitable for early discharge (with follow-up shortly after discharge).

Background

Patients presenting with possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS), who have a low short-term risk of adverse cardiac events may be suitable for early discharge and shorter hospital stays.

Methods

This prospective observational study tested an ADP that included pre-test probability scoring by the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score, electrocardiography, and 0 + 2 h values of laboratory troponin I as the sole biomarker. Patients presenting with chest pain due to suspected ACS were included. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac event (MACE) within 30 days.

Results

Of 1,975 patients, 302 (15.3%) had a MACE. The ADP classified 392 patients (20%) as low risk. One (0.25%) of these patients had a MACE, giving the ADP a sensitivity of 99.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 98.1% to 99.9%), negative predictive value of 99.7% (95% CI: 98.6% to 100.0%), specificity of 23.4% (95% CI: 21.4% to 25.4%), and positive predictive value of 19.0% (95% CI: 17.2% to 21.0%). Many ADP negative patients had further investigations (74.1%), and therapeutic (18.3%) or procedural (2.0%) interventions during the initial hospital attendance and/or 30-day follow-up.

Conclusions

Using the ADP, a large group of patients was successfully identified as at low short-term risk of a MACE and therefore suitable for rapid discharge from the emergency department with early follow-up. This approach could decrease the observation period required for some patients with chest pain. (An observational study of the diagnostic utility of an accelerated diagnostic protocol using contemporary central laboratory cardiac troponin in the assessment of patients presenting to two Australasian hospitals with chest pain of possible cardiac origin; ACTRN12611001069943)

Key Words

acute coronary syndromes
acute myocardial infarction
emergency department
sensitivity and specificity
troponins

Abbreviations and Acronyms

ACS
acute coronary syndrome(s)
ADP
accelerated diagnostic protocol
AMI
acute myocardial infarction
cTn
cardiac troponin
cTnI
cardiac troponin I
ECG
electrocardiography
ED
emergency department
HS-cTn
highly sensitive cardiac troponin
MACE
major adverse cardiac event(s)
STEMI
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
TIMI
Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction

Cited by (0)

Funding for the study was predominantly from the Christchurch Cardio-Endocrine Research Group and the Queensland Emergency Medicine Research Foundation with small (20%) contributions from industry (Abbott and Alere). Drs. Than, Cullen, and Parsonage, and Prof. Richards and Prof. Peacock have accepted travel, accommodation, consulting fees, or honoraria from Abbott. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.