Incidence, Diagnoses, and Outcomes of Pediatric Nontraumatic Chest Pain Attended by Ambulance

What are the incidence, diagnoses, and outcomes of pediatric patients with nontraumatic chest pain attended by emergency medical services (EMS)?In this cohort study of 4277 children, incidence for chest pain was 60.0 cases per 100 000 person-years; most cases were benign and not cardiac in origin. Serious outcomes (death, cardiac arrest, resuscitation, or intensive care unit admission) within 72 hours were rare (1.6%), but children with abnormal vital signs at EMS arrival had an increased risk of serious outcomes and hospital admission.These findings suggest improved triage systems and risk stratification are needed to guide safe and efficient care for children with chest pain.

Corresponding Author: Ziad Nehme, PhD, Centre for Research and Evaluation, Ambulance Victoria, 31 Joseph St, Blackburn North Victoria 3031, Australia (ziad.nehme@ambulance.vic.gov.au).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.