A large clinical trial published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that giving CT coronary artery scans to patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome — but no confirmed heart attack — produced no better outcomes than standard care.
The TARGET-CTCA trial looked at patients arriving at hospital with chest pain or other signs of a suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) — a term covering conditions where the blood supply to the heart is suddenly reduced — but whose test results had ruled out a full heart attack (myocardial infarction). Researchers compared two groups: those who received a CT coronary angiography scan, which produces detailed images of the arteries supplying the heart, and those managed through the usual diagnostic pathway.
Meanwhile, the results showed no difference in the rate of heart attacks or deaths from a cardiac cause between the two groups.
That’s a finding that may surprise clinicians who have championed CT angiography as a way to catch dangerous artery narrowing before it causes harm. The trial’s conclusion doesn’t mean the scans are useless — but it does suggest that in this specific group of patients, routine use of the technology does not translate into fewer serious events.
The New England Journal of Medicine posted the full TARGET-CTCA results and an accompanying research summary for those who want to examine the methodology in detail.
If you have concerns about chest pain or heart symptoms, do not wait — call 999 in an emergency or contact NHS 111 for urgent advice. Your GP can discuss any longer-term questions about heart health investigations.
Source: @NEJM
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