Implementation of High-Sensitivity Troponin for Early Rule-Out of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Emergency Department

Chest pain is a common reason for ED visits. Implementing a HEART score-based algorithm previously increased early discharges by 99%. This study aims to determine if the transition from cTnT to hs-cTnT assays affected patient disposition rates.

This retrospective observational study was conducted in a multi-site hospital system. Adults presenting to the ED with chest pain and a low HEART score (≤3) between November 9, 2020, and November 10, 2022, were included. The primary outcome was the change in patient disposition. Secondary outcomes included length-of-stay (LOS), rates of provocative testing, ED returns, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

We evaluated 32,968 patients (17,173 in the cTnT group and 15,795 in the hs-cTnT group). Both groups had a similar median age, but the hs-cTnT group had a higher proportion of patients with baseline troponin elevations. The ED discharge rate was higher in the hs-cTnT group (87.5%) compared to the cTnT group (85.3%; P < .001), with a corresponding decrease in observation and inpatient admissions. Additionally, the implementation of hs-cTnT was associated with a reduced LOS and a decrease in patients undergoing further testing. Finally, there was a reduction in ED re-visits without a difference in 30- or 60-day MACE after the implementation of hs-cTnT.

Integration of hs-cTnT into our chest pain clinical pathway resulted in increased ED discharges, reduced LOS, and fewer additional tests without a change in MACE. This translates to a savings of almost 7,000 ED hours annually without compromising safety.