Caller-reported symptoms of radiating pain to the arm, neck, or jaw combined with diffuse chest pain and age 50-89 years were key predictors of confirmed ACS, which occurred in 21% of 346 calls.
Observational (n=346)
No
Do specific caller-reported symptoms predict confirmed ACS in adults with suspected ACS during emergency calls?
Caller-reported symptoms of radiating pain to the arm, neck, or jaw, especially with diffuse chest pain in older adults, are key predictors of confirmed ACS during emergency dispatch.
Abstract Background Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, typically presenting with chest pain, pressure, or discomfort. Prompt recognition is crucial and medical dispatch systems must identify potential ACS cases based on caller-reported symptoms. This study examined the association between reported symptoms and confirmed ACS to improve prehospital triage. Methods This retrospective study examined emergency calls for suspected ACS among adults transported to the University Hospital Innsbruck between February and August 2021. Reported symptoms were correlated with confirmed diagnoses. Positive predictive values (PPVs) were calculated and a classification tree was developed. Results Of 346 suspected ACS calls, 21% were confirmed. Radiating pain to the arm, neck or jaw showed higher PPVs, especially when combined with diffuse chest pain and age 50–89 years. Point-focused or abdominal radiation was associated with non-ACS. Dispatch protocol adherence was high, with appropriate prioritization overall. Conclusion The dispatch algorithm showed moderate predictive accuracy. Symptom radiation and pain description were key predictors. Lack of sex-specific criteria warrants further improvement.
Krösbacher et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in Acute coronary syndrome (n=346). Caller-reported symptoms was evaluated on Confirmed ACS diagnosis. Caller-reported symptoms of radiating pain to the arm, neck, or jaw combined with diffuse chest pain and age 50-89 years were key predictors of confirmed ACS, which occurred in 21% of 346 calls.