Shortness of breath as a diagnostic factor for acute coronary syndrome in male and female callers to out-of-hours primary care
Authors' conclusion
Men and women with chest discomfort and SOB who contact the OHS-PC more often receive high urgency than those without SOB. This seems to be adequate in women, but not in men when considering the risk of ACS or other life-threatening diseases.
Study context
- Population
- Callers with chest discomfort contacting out-of-hours primary care, the Netherlands, 2014–2017
- Participants
- 2,195 participants
- Exposure
- Shortness of breath (SOB) vs no SOB
- SOBn = 1,096
- Outcome
- High urgency allocation; ACS; ACS or other life-threatening diseases
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
SOB
- High urgency allocation
- 75.9%
- Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
- 10.9%
- ACS or other life-threatening diseases
- 15.0%
No SOB
- High urgency allocation
- 60.8%
- ACS
- 12.0%
- ACS or other life-threatening diseases
- 14.1%
High urgency allocation
SOB75.9%
No SOB60.8%
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
SOB10.9%
No SOB12.0%
ACS or other life-threatening diseases
SOB15.0%
No SOB14.1%
SOB vs No SOBOdds ratio (95% CI)
High urgency allocation; multivariable OR 2.03 (95% CI 1.69 to 2.44)
2.03(1.69–2.44)
ACS; multivariable OR 0.91 (95% CI 0.70 to 1.19)
0.90(0.69–1.17)
ACS or other life-threatening diseases; multivariable OR 1.09 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.38)
1.07(0.85–1.36)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
ACS, by sex (subgroup)
- Women, SOB vs no SOB: ACS
- 9.2% vs 7.5%, OR: 1.25; 95% CI 0.83 to 1.88
- Men, SOB vs no SOB: ACS
- 13.2% vs 17.4%, OR: 0.72; 95% CI 0.51 to 1.02
ACS or other life-threatening diseases, by sex (subgroup)
- Women, SOB vs no SOB: ACS or other life-threatening diseases
- 13.0% vs 8.5%, OR: 1.60; 95% CI 1.10 to 2.32
- Men, SOB vs no SOB: ACS or other life-threatening diseases
- 7.5% vs 20.8%, OR: 0.81; 95% CI 0.59 to 1.12
Original publication
Shortness of breath as a diagnostic factor for acute coronary syndrome in male and female callers to out-of-hours primary care. Heart. Published 12 October 2023. doi:10.
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