Clinical Study

The Challenge of Triaging Chest Pain Patients: The Bernese University Hospital Experience

Table 1

Characteristics of 301 Patients.

Age, years, median (range)56 (17–92)
Male/female190 (63%)/111 (37%)
Coronary heart disease64 (21%)
Other cardiovascular disease32 (10%)
Other heart disease57 (19%)
Chronic lung disease38 (13%)
Diabetes mellitus39 (13%)
Arterial hypertension119 (40%)
Cigarette smoker/history of smoking129 (43%)
Dyslipidemia36 (12%)
Familial history of coronary heart disease49 (16%)
History of thromboembolic disease18 (6%)
Cancer22 (7%)
Chest pain234 (78%)
Oppressive chest pain radiating to arms or neck42 (14%)
Nonradiating oppressive chest pain50 (17%)
Respiration-dependent chest pain55 (18%)
Stabbing chest pain55 (18%)
Nonspecific chest pain89 (30%)
Burning chest pain8 (3%)
Dyspnoea74 (25%)
Cough67 (22%)
Expectoration19 (6%)
Heartburn14 (5%)