Diagnostic performance of coronary calcifications on CT to rule out acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND

At present, the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can be made by emergency physicians using the usual complementary tests, since the current troponin and electrocardiogram (ECG) protocols have been extensively tested for their safety. However, the detection of coronary calcifications on CT associated with coronary obstruction may be of interest for the diagnostic strategy in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to evaluate a strategy combining a non-ischemic ECG with an initial normal troponin assay and the diagnostic accuracy of chest CT in detecting coronary calcifications to rule out the presence of an acute coronary event in patients presenting with chest pain in the ED.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, single-center study carried out in an ED in France and included all patients over 18 years of age presenting with chest pain between 1 June 2021 and 31 December 2021 with a non-ischemic ECG and a negative first troponin assay. The primary endpoint was the diagnostic performance of the combing strategy in ruling out ACS. The secondary endpoints were the sensitivity and specificity of calcifications in acute coronary syndrome, comparison with the diagnostic performance of a second troponin assay and the rate of reconsultation, rehospitalisation and investigations within 2 months of the ED.

RESULTS

Of the 280 patients included, 141 didn't have calcifications. A total of 14 events were found with a negative predictive value for the combining strategy of 99.8% [95%CI: 98.2 - 100]. Sensitivity and specificity were 98.4% [95%CI: 83.8 - 100] and 53% [95%CI: 47 - 58.9], respectively. Among patients with no calcification, 8.2% were admitted to hospital and none suffered an acute coronary event. A total of 36 patients (12.8%) consulted a doctor within 2 months, with 23 investigations, all of which were negative in the non-calcification group.

CONCLUSIONS

A strategy combining the detection of coronary calcifications on chest CT in patients with a non-ischemic ECG and a single troponin assay is effective to rule out ACS in the ED, and may perform better then ECG and troponin alone.