AUTHOR=Sattayaraksa Attakowit , Ananchaisarp Thareerat , Vichitkunakorn Polathep , Chichareon Ply , Tantarattanapong Siriwimon 

TITLE=Diagnostic Performance of a Mnemonic for Warning Symptoms in Predicting Acute Coronary Syndrome Diagnosis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=68

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1606115

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1606115

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> We aimed to create a mnemonic for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) warning symptoms and determine its diagnostic performance.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients visiting the emergency room with symptoms of suspected ACS during 2020–2021. The mnemonic was created using symptoms with an odds ratio (OR) for predicting ACS &gt;1.0. The mnemonic with the highest OR and sensitivity was identified. Sensitivity analysis was performed to test the diagnostic performance of the mnemonic by patient subgroups commonly exhibiting atypical symptoms.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> ACS prevalence was 12.2% (415/3,400 patients). The mnemonic, “RUSH ChesT” [if you experience referred pain (R), unexplained sweating (U), shortness of breath (S), or heart fluttering (H) together with chest pain (C), visit the hospital in a timely (T) manner] had the best OR [7.81 (5.93–10.44)] and sensitivity [0.81 (0.77–0.85)]. This mnemonic had equal sensitivity in men and women, the elderly and adults, smokers and non-smokers, and those with and without diabetes or hypertension.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The “RUSH ChesT” mnemonic shows good diagnostic performance for patient suspected ACS. It may effectively help people memorize ACS warning symptoms.</p>