Derivation of a HEAR Pathway for Emergency Department Chest Pain Patients to Safely Avoid a Second Troponin Test

The study aims to develop a decision pathway based on HEAR score and 0 h high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) to safely avoid a second troponin test for suspected non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in emergency departments. A HEAR score consists of history, electrocardiogram, age, and risk factors. A HEAR pathway is established using a Bayesian approach based on a predefined safety threshold of NSTEMI prevalence in the rule-out group. In total, 7131 patients were retrospectively enrolled, 582 (8.2%) with index visit NSTEMI and 940 (13.2%) with 180-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). For patients with a low-risk HEAR score (0 to 2) and low 0 h hs-cTnT (