Patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome in a university hospital emergency department: an observational study

Table 2 Risk classification of patients after initial history, physical examination and ECG, but before blood samples. Modified after [6].

Risk categories		n	% of all	Age (yrs)	% admitted	% of men	% of women
I.	*Obvious AMI*	6	4	78.7 ± 3.8	100	6	1*
	Typical symptoms and ST-elevation with or without Q-waves on the ECG, or LBBB not known to be old.
II.	*Strong suspicion of ACS*	26	17	68.6 ± 2.2	100	13	22
	a) Typical symptoms without ST-elevation or Q-wave
	b) Atypical symptoms with STT changes or LBBB not known to be old
	c) History of unstable angina regardless of ECG
	d) Acute heart failure or hypotension regardless of ECG
	e) VT/VF or AV-block III
III.	*Vague suspicion of ACS*	46	29	63.7 ± 2.2	70	27	33
	Unclear symptoms and history, normal or nonischemic ECG.
IV.	*No suspicion of ACS*	79	50	55.0 ± 2.5	13	54	43*
	a) No suspicion of ischemic heart disease
	b) Stable angina pectoris
All included patients		157	100	60.8 ± 1.5	47	100	100

ACS, Acute coronary syndrome; LBBB, Left bundle branch block; VT/VF, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. *P < 0.05 compared to men.

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