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Risk Evaluation and Stratification of Low Risk for Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Not Applicable
Conditions
Chest Pain
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA)
Other: Cardiac Link
Registration Number
NCT03929341
Lead Sponsor
Elsie Nguyen
Brief Summary

This study will evaluate the ability of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA), used as a first-line diagnostic tool in women with stable chest pain and low risk for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), to reduce the number of women requiring more than one diagnostic test to rule in or rule out CAD. Half of the participants will undergo CCTA as the first test to investigate stable chest pain, while the other half will undergo any test ordered by their family physician.

Detailed Description

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in women globally. Women are more likely to present with atypical chest pain that may be difficult to diagnose using traditional testing methods, resulting in over-investigation.

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has high negative predictive value for exclusion of CAD in low to intermediate risk populations. We plan to investigate CCTA as a first line test to exclude coronary artery disease as a cause of stable chest pain and whether it is a cost effective strategy that reduces time to diagnosis, wait times to see cardiologists, emergency department visits, downstream and repeat testing and radiation exposure as compared to usual care with comparable patient safety and satisfaction level.

Another intervention being tested in this trial is the Cardiac Link pathway. This is a new clinical program at Women's College Hospital that aims to expedite cardiology referral for patients exhibiting clinically significant findings while undergoing CCTAs.

We hope that with use of CCTA as the first test, the number of women who require only one test (i.e. CCTA) to sort out whether or not CAD is responsible for their chest pain will increase, thereby decreasing over-investigation of low risk women.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
130
Inclusion Criteria
  • Men and women age ≥ 40 years of age
  • Stable chest pain or equivalent symptoms
  • Planned non-urgent, non-invasive testing for diagnosis of chest pain or equivalent symptoms
Exclusion Criteria
  • Acute coronary syndrome, including acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina, known non-ischemic cardiomyopathy or other cardiac disease (e.g. mitral valve prolapse, etc.) which would require urgent cardiac evaluation
  • Known CAD
  • Prior cardiac evaluation for current episode of symptoms
  • Previously investigated for CAD in the last 12 months
  • Severe allergic reaction to iodinated contrast (mild reactions such as urticaria that can be controlled by premedication with Benadryl & Prednisone may be included in the study)
  • Renal failure or dysfunction (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate<30ml/min/m2 within the past 3 months)
  • Pregnancy (status will be confirmed verbally. For premenopausal patients who are unsure, status will be confirmed by completing a pregnancy strip test).

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
CCTA first approach with Cardiac LinkCardiac LinkPatient will undergo Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography as the first test and have Cardiac Link pathway activated for expedited cardiology referral.
Usual Care without Cardiac LinkCoronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA)Patient will undergo the usual diagnostic test ordered by their family physician as the first test, but Cardiac Link pathway will not be activated.
CCTA first approach with Cardiac LinkCoronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA)Patient will undergo Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography as the first test and have Cardiac Link pathway activated for expedited cardiology referral.
Usual Care with Cardiac LinkCoronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA)Patient will undergo the usual diagnostic test ordered by their family physician as the first test, and have Cardiac Link pathway activated for expedited cardiology referral.
CCTA first approach without Cardiac LinkCoronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA)Patient will undergo Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography as the first test, but Cardiac Link pathway will not be activated.
Usual Care with Cardiac LinkCardiac LinkPatient will undergo the usual diagnostic test ordered by their family physician as the first test, and have Cardiac Link pathway activated for expedited cardiology referral.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total Number of TestsThrough study completion, which may take up to 1 year

The total number of tests a patient has to complete in order to diagnose the cause of their chest pain or equivalent symptoms

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Wait Times to See a CardiologistFrom date of cardiology referral letter sent by family physician to date of cardiologist appointment with patient, assessed up to 24 months

Time interval from when family physician referral letter was sent to the cardiologist's office to appointment time to see cardiologist

Time to DiagnosisFrom date of first presentation with chest pain to date of CAD diagnosis or exclusion, assessed up to 24 months

Time interval from time of presentation to family physician for evaluation of chest pain to the last test performed to determine etiology of chest pain or CAD exclusion.

Number of Normal Invasive Diagnostic AngiogramsFrom date of randomization to date of CAD diagnosis or exclusion, assessed up to 24 months

Number of invasive diagnostic angiograms done that reveal no coronary artery disease.

Total Cost of InvestigationsThrough study completion, which may take up to 1 year

Total cost (in Canadian dollars) of all tests completed to reach a diagnosis for chest pain

Cumulative Radiation Dose Exposure (milliSieverts)From date of randomization to date of CAD diagnosis or exclusion, assessed up to 24 months

Total effective radiation dose from all testing modalities for each patient.

Hospital/ER visitsThrough study completion, which may take up to 1 year

Number of hospital/ER visits while waiting to see cardiologist

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Women's College Hospital

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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