NICE guidance in the rapid access chest pain clinic: does it work?

Abstract Background Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinics (RACPC) were developed following the publication of the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease in 2000(1). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produces guidelines for the management of patients with recent onset chest pain of suspected cardiac origin(2). In 2016 the guidance was updated and recommended the use of CT coronary angiography (CTCA) as the initial investigation for patients with chest pain which was typical or atypical of angina. Adherence to the guideline may be dependent upon factors such as local availability of CT scanners and clinician preference. The RACPC in this tertiary centre is nurse-run with no medical involvement. There is good engagement with the CT department and in July 2017 the NICE guidance was adopted in the clinic. Purpose To evaluate the use of CTCA as the first line investigation for patients with typical or atypical chest pain. Methods Data from all patients reviewed in the clinic between 01/07/2017 and 31/12/2023 were prospectively collected, entered into a database, and then retrospectively analysed. The data were organised into 3 groups: patients with typical chest pain; atypical pain and those with non-cardiac sounding chest pain. The number of patients in each group who underwent a CTCA, and the outcome of the scan were evaluated. The CT scans were categorised as showing significant coronary artery disease (CAD), non-obstructive CAD, no CAD, or as inconclusive. The outcome of patients who had a positive CTCA was also recorded. Results 2986 patients were reviewed in the RACPC in the above period. 14.2% of patients presented with typical pain, 47.4% with atypical pain, and 30.6% had non-cardiac pain. The remaining patients presented with other symptoms such as breathlessness. CTCA was used as the first investigation in the majority of patients with typical or atypical pain, unless alternative investigations or management were deemed to be more clinically appropriate. In 59.5% of typical and 78.5% of atypical presentations, the CT scan showed no CAD, or non-significant CAD. There was a low incidence of positive scans in both groups, however patients with typical pain were more likely to have significant CAD (Table). All patients who had a CTCA indicating significant CAD, were referred for invasive angiography. 88.0% of typical presentations, and 64.0% of those with atypical pain, underwent revascularisation. No patient who underwent invasive angiography was found to have normal coronary arteries. Conclusion Atypical pain is the most frequent presentation in the RACPC, however the majority of these patients, and most of those with typical pain, do not have significant CAD. Careful assessment and the use of CTCA as the initial investigation, enable the identification of those patients who need invasive angiography. This is a cost-effective strategy which also reduces risk and radiation exposure for patients.