HEART score for the assessment of patients presenting to emergency department with chest pain

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate how well the History, Electrocardiogram (ECG), Age, Risk factors and Troponin (HEART) score predict patient outcomes in the emergency department (ED), focusing on discharge rates, observation needs, interventions, and mortality. RESULTS DESCRIPTION: A prospective observational study was conducted among 120 adult patients with chest pain who reported to the ED at medical college and hospital, Chennai from March 2024 to May 2024. Of the 120 patients, 64% were male and half of the patients were reported with symptoms of chest pain to the emergency department. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension emerged as the primary risk factor affecting patients. The mean HEART score is 5.18 ± 1.98 (95% CI 4.82-5.53) which ranged between 1 and 9. The HEART score categorised most patients (56%) as moderate risk. Outcomes of the patients' status demonstrated that 65% required ICU admission, with a low mortality rate of 2.5%. This study concluded that the HEART score is effective for risk assessment in chest pain patients, helping to identify those safe for discharge and those needing further care. Its use can improve decision-making and outcomes in the ED.