[The AHA/ACC/ASE/CHEST/SAEM/SCCT/SCMR guidelines 2021 on thoracic pain].

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Thoracic Medicine

Background:

• Chest pain is a critical symptom requiring comprehensive evaluation.
• Existing guidelines address various cardiac entities and syndromes associated with chest pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated overview of thoracic pain management based on the 2021 AHA/ACC/ASE/CHEST/SAEM/SCCT/SCMR guidelines.
• To detail risk stratification and clinical work-up for chest pain, including angina equivalents like dyspnea.

Main Methods:

• The guidelines synthesize information from existing recommendations on cardiac diseases (e.g., myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, pericarditis, aortic dissection) and syndromes (e.g., acute coronary syndrome).
• A cost-benefit analysis comparing noninvasive and invasive diagnostic methods is a key component.

Main Results:

• The guidelines differentiate between acute and stable angina pectoris.
• There is a discernible trend favoring evidence-based, cost-effective noninvasive diagnostic approaches.

Conclusions:

• The 2021 guidelines offer a structured approach to evaluating thoracic pain.
• The emphasis is on efficient, cost-effective diagnostic strategies, increasingly leaning towards noninvasive methods.