Diagnostic accuracy of prehospital clinical prediction models to identify short-term outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes: a systematic review.
The Journal of emergency medicine · 2013-01-13 · Systematic review
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although cardiac risk prediction is widely used in various clinical settings, its potential role in enhancing prehospital triage is yet to be understood. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the diagnostic accuracy of short-term clinical prediction models for potential use in a prehospital population with suspected acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: Eleven electronic medical databases were searched from 1990 to the end of August 2010 for all English-language observational and interventional studies. An online search strategy tool was used to identify grey-literature studies. Eligibility criteria were: 1) an unselected population of adult acute coronary syndrome patients; 2) recruited within the Emergency Department or Emergency Medical Services; 3) reported multivariate analysis encompassing patient history or physical examination; 4) reported short-term outcome measures; 5) were not solely computer protocols; and 6) were not reliant on tests unavailable out of the hospital. Data extraction was conducted by a single reviewer and verified by a second reviewer. Study quality was assessed independently by two reviewers using a validated quality assessment tool. RESULTS: A total of seven clinical prediction models were identified. Only two models reported were derived from a prehospital study population. Six clinical prediction models described good discriminate abilities (c-statistic) of 0.72 to 0.87. Among the range of independent predictors identified, electrocardiogram abnormalities, age, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure provided the strongest prognostic information. CONCLUSION: The models identified provided reasonable diagnostic accuracy for determining short-term outcomes. Methodological weaknesses and variability in the populations investigated limit their use in clinical practice.