HEART score performance in Asian and Caucasian patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected acute coronary syndrome.

Background: The HEART score is a simple and effective tool to predict short-term major adverse cardiovascular events in patients suspected of acute coronary syndrome. Patients are assigned to three risk categories using History, ECG, Age, Risk factors and Troponin (HEART). The purpose is early rule out and discharge is considered safe for patients in the low risk category.

Ethnic differences in clinical outcome of patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain.

Background: Ethnicity, although known to influence cardiovascular outcome in assorted clinical settings, has not been investigated previously as a risk factor in patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: In this multi-ethnic cohort study conducted in Singapore and The Netherlands, 2784 patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain were enrolled (788 Caucasians, 1281 Chinese, 404 Indians and 311 Malays) and were followed up for 1 year.

Results: Although Caucasian patients on average were older and had incurred more cardiovascular adverse events, the Asian ethnic groups carried a greater burden of cardiovascular risk factors.

The changing face of healthcare worker perceptions on powered air-purifying respirators during the SARS outbreak.

Objectives: Before the advent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), use of the powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) in the setting of pulmonary tuberculosis has been controversial. Data regarding health care worker (HCW) perceptions and problems encountered with the use of the PAPRs were lacking.

Methodology: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted of HCWs who had used the PAPR in clinical practice during the SARS outbreak, when use of the PAPR was mandatory and widespread.