Abstract
Background and Objectives: The HEART score aids in the early assessment of risk in patients presenting with chest pain in emergency settings.
Objective: To assess the impact of using the HEART score in patients presenting with chest pain in the emergency department.
Patients and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the emergency department of Shar Teaching Hospital, Sulaimani. From March 2024 to September 2024, two hundred patients with chest pain, aged 28-90 years (59.14±11.87 years), were enrolled. HEART and TIMI scores were calculated. Also, within 6 weeks of initial presentation major adverse cardiac events were documented.
Results: Regarding the HEART score, most low-risk patients (86.7%, n=13) were discharged with follow-up, while 13.3% (n=2) underwent angiography. In the moderate-risk group, 36.2% (n=25) received angiography with medical therapy, and 55.1% (n=38) underwent percutaneous intervention. Among high-risk patients, 84.5% (n=98) underwent percutaneous intervention (p<0.001). The HEART score was significantly higher in MACE patients (7.69 ± 1.47) than in non-MACE patients (5.03 ± 1.77). Similarly, the TIMI score was higher in the MACE group (1.41 ± 2.12) compared to non-MACE patients (0.37 ± 1.08). C-statistics showed better performance of the HEART score (0.87) over TIMI (0.61) (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The HEART score enhances decision-making in emergencies, outperforming radiation-based or invasive methods. Low scores indicate a lower acute coronary syndrome risk, while high scores predict a higher incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events. As a quick, reliable prognostic tool, it aids in efficient chest pain triage.