Patients with chest pain suspected for non ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) are routinely transferred to the emergency department (ED). A point-of-care (POC) troponin measurement might enable ambulance paramedics to identify low-risk patients in whom ED evaluation is not necessary. The ARTICA trial aims to assess the healthcare cost reduction and safety of a pre-hospital rule-out strategy using a single POC troponin measurement.

Patients with chest pain suspected of a NSTE-ACS are screened by ambulance paramedics. The HEAR score (HEART score without the Troponin component) is assessed and patients with a HEAR score of ≤3 are included. The patients are randomised to 1) pre-hospital rule-out with POC troponin measurement (intervention group) and 2) direct transfer to the ED (standard care group). Primary outcome is healthcare costs after 30 days.

Inclusion criteria:

• Age at least 18 years; male ánd female
• All out-of-hospital patients with chest pain or symptoms suggestive of ACS initially visited by an ambulance with an indication for transfer to a hospital to evaluate and rule out ACS
• Symptom duration for at least two hours
• Modified HEAR(T) score less or equal than 3
• A point of care troponin below the upper reference limit (for patients stratified to pre-hospital management by the general practitioner)
• The patient has been informed of the nature of the study, agrees to its provisions and has provided written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria:

• Electrocardiographic ST-segment elevation
• Patients presenting an obvious non-cardiac cause for the chest complaints who need evaluation at an emergency department, e.g. trauma, pneumothorax, sepsis, etc.
• Patients in comatose state, defined as an Glascgow coma scale (GCS) <8
• Patients with known cognitive impairment
• Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant during the course of the study
• Patients presenting cardiogenic shock, defined as: systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg and heart rate >100 beats per minute and peripheral oxygen saturation <90% (without oxygen administration)
• Patients presenting with syncope
• Patients presenting with signs of heart failure
• Patients presenting with heart rhythm disorders and second or third degree atrioventricular block
• Patients with known end-stage renal disease (dialysis and/or glomular filtration rate (GFR) < 30 ml/min)
• Patients without a pre-hospital 12-lead ECG performed or available
• Patients suspicious of aortic dissection or pulmonary embolism
• Patients with confirmed acute myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting <30 days prior to inclusion
• Communication issues with patient/language barrier
• Decision of a present general practitioner to evaluate the patient at the emergency department (ED)
• Decision of the consultant cardiologist to evaluate patient at the ER irrespective of HEART score
• Any significant medical or mental condition, which in the Investigators opinion may interfere with the patients optimal participation in the study

Data will be available to researchers who were granted permission to the data by the principal investigator

1 year after completion

After permission

The clinical events are blindly adjudicated by an independent Clinical Events Committee