Keywords

Acute coronary syndrome, Calcium scores, Cardiac catheterization, Computed tomography, Computer tomography angiography, Coronary artery disease, Emergency department

 

Authors

  1. Bunch, Azalea Marie MSN, BSN, RN, ARNP

Abstract

Approximately 6 million patients present to the emergency department each year for evaluation of chest pain, and 70% of chest pain presentations are noncardiac in origin. This systematic review article compares noninvasive tests (coronary computed tomography angiography and coronary calcium scoring) to determine the predictive value to detect coronary artery disease and evaluate acute coronary syndrome associated with major cardiovascular events. There was a direct correlation with major cardiovascular events to higher calcium scores indicating that coronary artery calcium scores are strong predictors of the prognosis of coronary artery disease rather than angiographic findings. Further studies are needed.