increasing serum troponin i and early prognosis in patients with chest pain or angina equivalent symptoms in the emergency department

background: the purpose of this research was to determine the relation between negative or positive qualitative troponin i test and the short term prognosis of patients presenting to emergency department with chest pain or angina equivalent symptoms. methods: we assessed the qualitative rapid troponin i in patients with chest pain or angina equivalent symptoms after at least 4 hours and then we followed the patients in 72 hours after presentation for adverse events such as death, ccu admission, fatal arrhythmias and heart failure. results: after comparing qualitative troponin i test results and adverse events, we concluded that the troponin i was significantly more positive in patients with adverse events (i.e. ccu admission, fatal arrhythmias and heart failure) ( p =0.031). conclusion: a single measurement of  rapid qualitative troponin i test can be used as a prognostic factor in patients with chest pain or angina equivalent symptoms and also as a device for risk stratification of moderate and high risk patients.