Investigations

Why?

• Physicians are good at predicting which patients are at high risk for acute MI, but are less good at excluding it. ^{b c}
• Patients at low-risk for ischaemic heart disease who have an ECG and cardiac enzymes measured feel better, and have improved activity at 3 weeks. ^a

Basic investigations make patients feel better

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	RRR (95% CI)	NNT (95% CI)
chest pain at low-risk for ischaemic heart disease a	basic investigations	no basic investigations	activity same or less than before at 3 weeks	20%	120% (37% to 260%)	4 (3 to 9)
			'feel sick all the time' at 3 weeks	11%	130% (10% to 370%)	7 (4 to 44)