Table 2 Summary of results of previous validation studies of the HEART score

Number of patients

N = 880 [12]

N = 2388 [13]

N = 2906 [14]

N = 6174

Design

Retrospective

Prospective

Prospective

Countries

The Netherlands

The Netherlands

9 countries in the Asia-Pacific region

Participating hospitals

4

10

14

Inclusion period

Jan ‘06 – Mar ‘06

Oct ‘08 –Nov ‘09

Nov ‘07 – Dec ‘10

Type of patients

Patients presenting with chest pain at the ED

Patients presenting with chest pain at the ED

Patients presenting with chest pain at the ED

MACE definition

AMI, revascularisation, all cause death

AMI, revascularisation, stenosis managed conservatively, all cause death

AMI, revascularisation, death unless clearly non-cardiac

Duration of follow-up

6 weeks

6 weeks

4 weeks

Cumulative incidence of MACE stratified by HEART scores

0-3

0.99%

1.7%

1.7%

1.6% (95%-CI 1.05-2.15)

4-6

11.6%

16.6%

14.3%

12.5% (95%-CI 11.34-13.66)

7-10

65.2%

50.1%

50.0%

49.4% (95%-CI 46.37- 52.43)