The effect of applying NICE guidelines for the investigation of stable chest pain on out-patient cardiac services

Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently released guide-lines for the investigation of chest pain of recent onset. There is no published data regarding their impact on out-patient cardiac services. Aim: This study was undertaken to assess the likeli-hood of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic (RACPC) patients and the resultant investigation burden if NICE guidance was applied. Methods: Five hundred and ninety-five consecutive patients attending two RACPCs over 6 months pre-ceding release of the NICE guidelines [51 % male; median age 55 (range 22–94) years] were risk stra-tified using NICE criteria and the resultant investiga-tions evaluated. Results: One hundred and six (18%) patients had a likelihood of CAD <10%, 123 (21%) between 10