Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study groups

Age (years)

49.4

49.6

Male sex (%)

304 (63.5%)

318 (64.5%)

Known CHD (%)

16 (3.3%)

27 (5.5%)

Hypertension (%)

127 (26.5%)

120 (24.3%)

Diabetes (%)

17 (3.5%)

29 (5.9%)

Hyperlipidaemia (%)

58 (12.1%)

70 (14.2%)

Smoker (%)

169 (35.3%)

143 (29.0%)

Family history (%)

189 (39.5%)

200 (40.6%)

Pain nature

Indigestion / burning

60 (12.5%)

56 (11.4%)

Stabbing / sharp

116 (24.2%)

113 (22.9%)

Aching / dull / heavy

175 (36.5%)

181 (36.7%)

Gripping / crushing

66 (13.8%)

59 (12.0%)

Other

57 (11.9%)

71 (14.4%)

Pain site

Central

317 (66.2%)

335 (68.0%)

Left chest

129 (26.9%)

125 (25.4%)

Right chest

19 (4.0%)

16 (3.2%)

Other

8 (1.7%)

8 (1.6%)

Pain radiation

None

183 (38.2%)

189 (38.3%)

Left arm

118 (24.6%)

142 (28.8%)

Right arm

31 (6.5%)

26 (5.3%)

Neck

22 (4.6%)

22 (4.5%)

Jaw

15 (3.1%)

13 (2.6%)

Back

70 (14.6%)

53 (10.8%)

Other

27 (5.6%)

30 (6.1%)

Pain duration

Continuous pain

312 (65.1%)

341 (69.2%)

Intermittent pain

93 (19.4%)

95 (19.3%)

Other symptoms

Nausea

129 (26.9%)

161 (32.7%)

Vomiting

25 (5.2%)

31 (6.3%)

Dyspnoea

185 (38.6%)

202 (41.0%)

Sweating

192 (40.1%)

210 (42.6%)

ECG at presentation

ECG normal (%)

412 (89.0%)

382 (82.2%)

ECG non-specific (%)

38 (8.2%)

64 (13.8%)

ECG old change (%)

13 (2.8%)

19 (4.1%)

Source of referral

GP referral

138 (28.8%)

116 (23.5%)

Self referred

173 (36.1%)

155 (31.4%)

999

145 (30.3%)

189 (38.3%)

Other

23 (4.8%)

33 (6.7%)