Troponin Testing in Atrial Fibrillation Patients in Emergency Departments
Author Information
Author(s): Meshkat Nazanin, Austin Emily, Moineddin Rahim, Hatamabadi Hamidreza, Hassani Behzad, Abdalvand Ali, Marcuzzi Amanda
Primary Institution: University of Toronto
Hypothesis
How many patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter undergo troponin testing, and how are positive results managed in the emergency department?
Conclusion
Troponin tests are frequently ordered for patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter in emergency departments, with 4.9% diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome.
Supporting Evidence
- 86% of patients had troponins ordered.
- 13.7% of those tested had positive troponin results.
- 4.9% of the total patient cohort was treated for acute coronary syndrome.
Takeaway
Doctors often check troponin levels in patients with a heart condition called atrial fibrillation, and some of these patients are found to have a serious heart issue.
Methodology
Retrospective chart review of patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter at three emergency departments.
Potential Biases
Variability in data abstraction and potential missing clinical data.
Limitations
The study did not establish a gold standard for diagnosing acute coronary syndrome, and there were limitations inherent to retrospective chart reviews.
Participant Demographics
Patients included both genders, with a significant portion aged 75 and older.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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