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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

The prevalence of non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) using emergency department (ED) data: a Northern Ireland based study

Authors: Orla McDevitt-Petrovic, Karen Kirby, Mark Shevlin

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of chest pain presentations and the subsequent non-cardiac chest pain diagnoses in an emergency department (ED) over a 3 year period.

Methods

Administrative data on ED attendances to an urban general hospital in Northern Ireland between March 2013 and March 2016 were used. Data were coded and analysed to estimate frequencies of ‘chest pain’ presentation and the subsequent diagnoses for each year.

Results

Both chest pain presentations and chest pain presentations with a subsequent diagnosis of unknown cause increased each year. In total, 58.7% of all chest presentations across 3 years resulted in a non-cardiac diagnosis of either ‘anxiety’, ‘panic’ or ‘chest pain of unknown cause’.

Discussion

There is a significant amount of patients in the ED leaving with a non-cardiac diagnosis, following an initial presentation with chest pain.

Conclusion

Given the link between non-cardiac chest pain and frequent use of services, the degree of repeat attendance should be investigated.
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Metadata
Title
The prevalence of non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) using emergency department (ED) data: a Northern Ireland based study
Authors
Orla McDevitt-Petrovic
Karen Kirby
Mark Shevlin
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2493-8

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