Impact of Rest Myocardial Perfusion Imaging on Clinical Management of Non-High Risk Chest Pain in the VA Caribbean Healthcare System Emergency Department: 2006-2008.

Objective: To evaluate the appropriate clinical use of an acute rest myocardial perfusion imaging (R-MPI) in the initial emergency department (ED) evaluation of a patient presenting with chest pain (CP).

Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients evaluated with CP at the ED with an acute R-MPI. The data collected included medical history, clinical presentation, electrocardiogram, laboratory data, MPI results, confirmatory studies, disposition diagnosis and cost analysis.

Screening for Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Lower extremity peripheral artery disease is a manifestation of systemic atherosclerotic disease, which affects over 8 million Americans and conveys a significant health burden globally. Although PAD can be asymptomatic and subclinical, it is associated with a reduction in functional capacity and quality of life when symptomatic, and, in its most severe form, is a major cause of limb amputation. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) commonly results from progressive narrowing of arteries in the lower extremities.

The Racial, Cultural and Social Makeup of Hispanics as a potential Profile Risk for Intensifying the Need for Including this Ethnic Group in Clinical Trials.

Hypertension not only is the most frequently listed cause of death worldwide; but also a well-recognized major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Based on the latest published statistics published by the American Heart Association, hypertension is very prevalent and found in one of every 3 US adults. Furthermore, data from NHANES 2007 to 2010 claims that almost 6% of US adults have undiagnosed hypertension.