Biochemical diagnosis of myocardial infarction evolves towards ESC/ACC consensus: experiences from the Nordic countries

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field OBJECTIVES: To investigate the diagnostic approach in Nordic hospitals receiving patients suspected of acute myocardial infarction (MI), especially focusing on implementation of the recentl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal
Main Authors: Hjortshøj, Søren, Otterstad, Jan Erik, Lindahl, Bertil, Danielsen, Ragnar, Pulkki, Kari, Ravkilde, Jan
Other Authors: Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Cardiology, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Informa Healthcare 2010
Subjects:
Biological Markers
Consensus
Denmark
Emergency Service
Hospital
Finland
Health Care Surveys
Humans
Iceland
Laboratory Techniques and Procedures
Myocardial Infarction
Norway
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Questionnaires
Sweden
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2336/115561
https://doi.org/10.1080/14017430510009140
Description
Summary:To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field OBJECTIVES: To investigate the diagnostic approach in Nordic hospitals receiving patients suspected of acute myocardial infarction (MI), especially focusing on implementation of the recently proposed criteria by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for the definition of MI. DESIGN: A survey with questionnaires of the diagnostic approach was conducted among all relevant departments (220) in the Nordic countries. RESULTS: Seventy-six percent (167) of hospitals responded. Troponins I and T (TnI and TnT) and creatinine kinase monobasic fraction (mass concentration) (CKMB(mass)) covered 93 and 65% of hospitals, respectively. Of troponin users, 34% indicated use of TnI vs 66% using TnT. Sporadic use of AST, CK, LD and myoglobin was reported. There was a tendency to lower cut-off levels in Sweden and Finland. Among troponin assays, there was considerable heterogeneity regarding cut-off levels. CONCLUSIONS: The Nordic countries are approaching ESC/ACC consensus on cardiac markers. Compared with previous national surveys (1995-1999), there is a shift towards the use of troponins. However, differences in cut-off levels of troponin emphasize the need for harmonization of assays.

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