The Potential of Heart Risk Score to Detect the Existence and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease According to Syntax Score at the Emergency Department

Abstract Background: Patients presenting with chest pain (CP) at the emergency departments are challenging cases for the physicians to make valid decisions with regard to acute coronary syndrome, which needs urgent medical intervention while the majority of the admitted patients are free from serious cardiac problems. The present study was done to investigate the potential of Heart Risk Score in detecting the existence and severity of coronary artery disease in CP patients based on Syntax score.Methods: Among CP patients who were admitted at the emergency department, 100 participants were selected. Heart Risk Score was calculated for each participant on admission. Two independent cardiologists also calculated the Syntax score after angiography was done for each patient. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the correlation between Heart Risk Score and Syntax score.Results: The median age of participants was 58.42±12.42 with the majority (65%) being male. The mean Heart Risk Score of the patients was 5.76±1.56 (min=3, max=9) and the mean Syntax score was 14.82±11.42(min=0, max=44.5). Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.493 (P<0.001) between Heart Risk Score and Syntax score which was statistically significant (P<0.001). According to our findings a Heart Risk Score of more than 6 has a 52% sensitivity and a 74.7% specificity to detect extensive coronary artery involvement (Syntax score>22).Conclusion: We found that there is a positive and significant correlation between Heart Risk Score and Syntax score which underlines the importance of using Heart Risk Score in emergency departments to reduce unnecessary invasive interventions in patients presenting with chest pain.