Aortic calcification on plain chest radiography increases risk for coronary artery disease.

Study Objectives: To determine whether an association exists between aortic calcification viewed on plain chest radiography and coronary artery disease.

Methods: Retrospective review of all chest radiographs obtained from consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography at a primary cardiac center during 1999. Plain chest radiographs were reviewed by blinded radiologists, and interobserver consistency was measured.

The "prudent layperson" definition of an emergency medical condition.

The study objectives, based on federal and state legislative language, were to objectively define symptoms and signs commonly agreed on by "prudent laypersons" as "emergency medical conditions." After comprehensive tabulation of symptom classifications from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9), we performed a survey of nonmedical laypersons. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, proportional calculations, and 95% confidence intervals.