What is the purpose of clinical assessment and initial evaluation for patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome?
The purpose of clinical assessment and initial evaluation for patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome is to provide a risk assessment score and clinical prediction algorithm to help identify patients with ACS at increased risk of adverse outcomes. Common risk assessment tools include the TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) risk score, the PURSUIT (Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa in Unstable Angina: Receptor Suppression Using Integrilin Therapy) risk score, the GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) risk and the NCDR-ACTION (National Cardiovascular Data Registry-Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network) registry. These assessment tools are applied to predict outcomes in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with undifferentiated chest pain. Determination of the level of risk on initial evaluation is imperative to guide patient management, including the need for additional diagnostic testing and treatment. 