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| Heart attack test 'cuts hospital stays' | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A blood test can more than halve the number of people admitted to hospital with a suspected heart attack, say doctors. | |
| They say the rapid test, which looks for a chemical in the blood, would reduce stress for patients, save money and ease pressure on hospital wards. | They say the rapid test, which looks for a chemical in the blood, would reduce stress for patients, save money and ease pressure on hospital wards. |
| Trials on 6,304 people, published in the Lancet medical journal, suggested it was 99.6% accurate. | Trials on 6,304 people, published in the Lancet medical journal, suggested it was 99.6% accurate. |
| The British Heart Foundation said the test would produce faster answers without affecting patient safety. | The British Heart Foundation said the test would produce faster answers without affecting patient safety. |
| About one million people attend A&E departments in the UK with chest pain, only for most of them to be sent home after a sometimes lengthy and anxious stay. | About one million people attend A&E departments in the UK with chest pain, only for most of them to be sent home after a sometimes lengthy and anxious stay. |
| They have levels of troponin, a chemical released by damaged heart muscle, tested when they are admitted and again 12 hours later. | They have levels of troponin, a chemical released by damaged heart muscle, tested when they are admitted and again 12 hours later. |
| The new test also looks for troponin, but can detect much lower levels and needs to be done only once. So those given the all-clear can go straight home. | The new test also looks for troponin, but can detect much lower levels and needs to be done only once. So those given the all-clear can go straight home. |
| Symptoms | Symptoms |
| The study, led by the University of Edinburgh and taking place in Scottish and US hospitals, estimated that two-thirds of patients could be discharged much more quickly. | The study, led by the University of Edinburgh and taking place in Scottish and US hospitals, estimated that two-thirds of patients could be discharged much more quickly. |
| Dr Atul Anand, one of the researchers and a physician at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, told the BBC News website: "It's really exciting. When you look at patients who come to medical wards with chest pain, 80% are going home 12 hours later. | Dr Atul Anand, one of the researchers and a physician at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, told the BBC News website: "It's really exciting. When you look at patients who come to medical wards with chest pain, 80% are going home 12 hours later. |
| "This avoids the hassle, cost and patient stress." | "This avoids the hassle, cost and patient stress." |
| He said the test cost less than £10 although not all hospitals currently had the facilities to perform the more sensitive test. | He said the test cost less than £10 although not all hospitals currently had the facilities to perform the more sensitive test. |
| However, Dr Anand said it would be "pretty straightforward" to introduce and there was a "clamouring" to do it. | However, Dr Anand said it would be "pretty straightforward" to introduce and there was a "clamouring" to do it. |
| Prof Jeremy Pearson, from the British Heart Foundation, said: "A faster, more accurate diagnosis of whether chest pain is caused by a heart attack would be better for patients and save the NHS money. | Prof Jeremy Pearson, from the British Heart Foundation, said: "A faster, more accurate diagnosis of whether chest pain is caused by a heart attack would be better for patients and save the NHS money. |
| "No-one wants to be in hospital unless they have to be. | "No-one wants to be in hospital unless they have to be. |
| "What's important about this study is that the evidence shows you can quickly and confidently rule out a heart attack without compromising patient safety." | "What's important about this study is that the evidence shows you can quickly and confidently rule out a heart attack without compromising patient safety." |
| Follow James on Twitter. | Follow James on Twitter. |