Short-term risk of adverse outcome is significantly higher in patients returning an abnormal troponin result when tested in the emergency department.

Objective: Describe short-term mortality and hospitalization outcomes in patients undergoing troponin testing in Western Australia tertiary public hospital ED.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of adults presenting to urban tertiary ED between July 2000 and December 2004, and undergoing troponin inhibitory or tropomyosin binding testing. Patient data relating to ED attendance, troponins, hospitalization and death were linked using probabilistic data linkage.