ACS risk similar with normal ECG performed during presence or absence of chest pain
Clinical Question
Is the risk of acute coronary syndrome lower in adults with a normal electrocardiogram performed during the presence of chest pain?
Bottom Line
The presence or absence of chest pain during the acquisition of a normal electrocardiogram (ECG) result does not change the subsequent risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). (LOE = 1b)
Reference
Turnipseed SD, Trythall WS, Diercks DB, et al. Frequency of acute coronary syndrome in patients with normal electrocardiogram performed during presence or absence of chest pain. Acad Emerg Med 2009;16(6):495-499. [PMID:19426294]
Study Design
Cohort (prospective)
Funding
Unknown/not stated
Setting
Emergency department
Synopsis
Most clinicians are taught that a normal ECG result in the presence of chest pain (as opposed to no active pain) significantly reduces the likelihood of ongoing cardiac ischemia. These investigators identified 387 adults, aged 25 to 90 years, presenting to the emergency department with a chief complaint of chest pain suspicious for ACS. All patients had an initial ECG interpreted as normal and underwent standard evaluation for ACS (2 or more measurements of serum troponin I over 6 hours). More than 25% of the patients had a history of coronary artery disease. Two individuals masked to patient outcomes independently interpreted the initial ECG performed in the emergency department as normal or abnormal. Differences were resolved after consensus agreement with a third individual. At the time of the initial ECG, 126 (33%) of patients had no chest pain and 261 (67%) had active pain. The groups were similar in age, sex, cardiac risk factors, and known coronary artery disease. Of the total study group, 67 (17%) met standard diagnostic criteria for ACS. The presence or absence of chest pain during the acquisition of a normal ECG was not significantly associated with the prevalence of ACS: 16% (42/261) versus 20% (25/126), respectively.
Citation
Barry, Henry, et al., editors. "ACS Risk Similar With Normal ECG Performed During Presence or Absence of Chest Pain." EE+ POEM Archive, John Wiley & Sons, 2025. Evidence Central, evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426884/all/ACS_risk_similar_with_normal_ECG_performed_during_presence_or_absence_of_chest_pain.
ACS risk similar with normal ECG performed during presence or absence of chest pain. In: Barry HH, Ebell MHM, Shaughnessy AFA, et al, eds. EE+ POEM Archive. John Wiley & Sons; 2025. https://evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426884/all/ACS_risk_similar_with_normal_ECG_performed_during_presence_or_absence_of_chest_pain. Accessed February 16, 2025.
ACS risk similar with normal ECG performed during presence or absence of chest pain. (2025). In Barry, H., Ebell, M. H., Shaughnessy, A. F., & Slawson, D. C. (Eds.), EE+ POEM Archive. John Wiley & Sons. https://evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426884/all/ACS_risk_similar_with_normal_ECG_performed_during_presence_or_absence_of_chest_pain
ACS Risk Similar With Normal ECG Performed During Presence or Absence of Chest Pain [Internet]. In: Barry HH, Ebell MHM, Shaughnessy AFA, Slawson DCD, editors. EE+ POEM Archive. John Wiley & Sons; 2025. [cited 2025 February 16]. Available from: https://evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426884/all/ACS_risk_similar_with_normal_ECG_performed_during_presence_or_absence_of_chest_pain.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - ACS risk similar with normal ECG performed during presence or absence of chest pain
ID - 426884
ED - Barry,Henry,
ED - Ebell,Mark H,
ED - Shaughnessy,Allen F,
ED - Slawson,David C,
BT - EE+ POEM Archive
UR - https://evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426884/all/ACS_risk_similar_with_normal_ECG_performed_during_presence_or_absence_of_chest_pain
PB - John Wiley & Sons
DB - Evidence Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -