Mersey Acute Coronary Syndrome Rule-Out Using High Sensitive Troponin (MACROS)

Mersey Acute Coronary Syndrome Rule-Out Using High Sensitive Troponin (MACROS) : A Comparison of Risk Scores in Consecutive, Unselected Chest Pain Presentations With Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Era of High Sensitive Troponin

The aim of this observational study is twofold. The primary hypothesis being tested is that initial(first) high sensitivity Tn <5ng/l (limit of detection) combined with an ECG with no ischaemic changes is superior as an accelerated diagnostic tool/strategy compared to TIMI score (<2), GRACE <75 and HEART score ≤ 3. (Hs tn T- Roche elecsys HS tn T) and also against HS troponin at the 99th percentile (<15ng/l with nonischaemic changes)- again all scored with initial (first tn ) only.

The second aim is to directly compare the three established methods of risk stratifying patients (predicting risk in suspected heart attacks) namely, the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE), Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) and HEART score in the era of high sensitivity troponins performs best.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Ischemia; Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Chest Pain; Angina Pectoris; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina, Unstable; Heart Attack; Chest Pain Atypical Syndrome

Detailed Description

Chest pain results in up to 9.4% of presentations to emergency departments in the UK and up to 27.4% of hospital admissions. The morbidity, mortality and economic costs associated with this constitute a significant burden on the National Health Service (NHS). Distinguishing patients with serious and potentially life-threatening causes of chest pain from those with 'benign' causes is important but often difficult.

There are numerous risk stratification scores available for estimating risk in patients with heart attacks but these have not been widely applied or tested in those presenting to accident and emergency department with chest pain when the diagnosis of a heart attack has not yet been established but is suspected. These tools were based on conventional Troponin assays. The advent of the new Elecsys highly-sensitive (HS) Troponin T assays has led to improved and earlier detection of heart attacks. high sensitivity refers to analytic sensitivity - much lower concentrations of troponin can be identified in the blood.

The aim of this prospective observational cohort study is twofold. Firstly to determine whether the results of a single high sensitivity troponin and electrocardiogram (ECG) could be used alone to direct care (expedite early discharge in those ECG and troponin negative). A discharge strategy of high sensitive troponin (<5ng/l) with a nonsichaemic ECG will be directly compared to the following: hs troponin at or below the 99th percentile (<15ng/l) + a nonischaemic ECG, TIMI score <2, HEART score ≤ 3 and GRACE score <75.

Secondly we wish to determine which of the three established methods of risk stratifying patients (predicting risk in suspected heart attacks) namely, the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE), Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) and HEART score in the era of HS troponin T performs best.

Patients presenting to the emergency department at Aintree University Hospital, Merseyside between June 2011 and October 2011 with suspected cardiac chest pain are prospectively recruited and information entered into an electronic database. The study comprises of 1750 consecutive patients (3056 with chest pain but only 1750 with suspected cardiac chest pain). All data collated will form the basis for risk stratification scores (GRACE, TIMI, HEART) calculation. These risk scores will give a predicted event rate (death, heart attack, stenting procedure or bypass).

The main outcome measures are major adverse cardiac events(MACE)- death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and emergency revascularisation at 6 weeks, and 1 year. the outcomes will be blinded (to initial risk scores) and independently adjudicated by consultant cardiologists with a 3rd consultant cardiologist experienced in clinical endpoint adjudication used to resolve differences.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 3054

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients presenting to the emergency department at a single large teaching hospital- Aintree University Hospital, Merseyside between June 2011 and November 2011 with suspected cardiac chest pain

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients aged >18 years presenting to the emergency department at Aintree University Hospital,Merseyside between June-November 2011 with suspected cardiac chest pain

Exclusion Criteria:

• The presence of a definitive non-ischaemic cause for chest pain, trauma-related chest pain, cardiac arrest on arrival to the ED.
• Patients without HS troponin T which indicates no suspicion of a cardiac cause of chest pain

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Suspected Cardiac Chest Pain; This cohort is observed for the incidence of MACE (death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and emergency revascularisation)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Participants with major adverse cardiac events(MACE)- death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and emergency revascularisation at 1 year	To compare the observed versus predicted incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) amongst the three methods of risk stratifications (GRACE, TIMI, HEART) at 1 year in order to determine the most effective risk score	12 months observational period from recruitment date

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Participants with major adverse cardiac events(MACE)- death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and emergency revascularisation ; in patients with a normal ECG/initial Troponin	To determine if the combination of a negative high sensitivity troponin T and a normal ECG at presentation is associated with a lower risk of MACE (compared to determining risks with risk scores) at 1 year of admission	12 months observational period from recruitment date

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Aleem Khand, MbChB,MRCP, Aintree University Hospital NHS Trust, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Khand A, Frost F, Grainger R, Fisher M, Chew P, Mullen L, Patel B, Obeidat M, Albouaini K, Dodd J. Identification of high-risk non-ST elevation myocardial infarction at presentation to emergency department. A prospective observational cohort study in North West England. BMJ Open. 2020 Jun 8;10(6):e030128. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030128.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 20, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 19, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): October 21, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 9, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 1, 2021
• Last Verified: August 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Troponin; risk stratification; MACE; High Sensitivity Troponin T; suspected cardiac chest pain; GRACE; TIMI; HEART
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Ischemia; Pathologic Processes; Necrosis; Vascular Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Disease; Infarction; Myocardial Infarction; Heart Diseases; Myocardial Ischemia; Cardiovascular Diseases; Syndrome; Chest Pain; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Angina Pectoris; Angina, Unstable
• Other Study ID Numbers: 808/15

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: All data anonymised and will be analysed accordingly. Results of the study will be published once analysis completed

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No