Patterns of acute chest pain at two tertiary centres in Accra, Ghana

To assess the clinical presentation and evaluation of acute life-threatening chest pain in Accra, Ghana.

This was a cross-sectional study at the emergency departments of two leading tertiary hospitals in Accra.

The study was conducted at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.

The study participants comprised adult patients aged 18 years and above who presented with acute chest pain at the emergency departments between April and June 2018.

Acute coronary syndrome is the leading life-threatening cause of chest pain with poor pre- and in-hospital care.

232 patients with chest pain were enrolled as respondents aged 18 to 94 years. The prevalence of life-threatening conditions causing chest pain was 31.9% of those who presented with acute chest pain. These included acute coronary syndrome (82.4%), pulmonary embolism (14.9%), and acute chest syndrome (2.7%). A few (6.6%) with life-threatening conditions such as acute coronary syndrome were transported by ambulances, and 44.3% reported to the facility within 2 to 9 days after the onset of chest pain. None of the patients with pulmonary embolism and acute chest syndrome had computer tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) and echocardiogram done, respectively.

Our study found that life-threatening conditions amongst patients presenting with acute chest pains are common; however, there is a need to improve pre-hospital care and in-hospital assessment of these cases.

The study was partly funded by the Medtronic Foundation.