An interventional study of Outpatient Evaluation and Hospitalization Evaluation in Chest Pain, sponsored by Wake Forest University Health Sciences. Recruiting at 3 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 21 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-30.
Sponsored by Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this study is to determine if rapid outpatient evaluation vs hospitalization management is the best strategy (based on patient-centered measures and safe, equitable, and efficient resource use) for evaluating patients with acute chest pain who are at moderate risk for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients will be randomized in the Emergency Department to either an outpatient evaluation (CARE-CP) or hospitalization evaluation for their symptoms.
Current care patterns for the 7 million patients visiting Emergency Departments (EDs) in the United States with chest pain are heterogeneous and not sustainable from a healthcare quality or economic perspective. Chest pain is the second most common cause of ED visits and the most common reason for short-stay hospitalizations. During these hospitalizations patients undergo in-depth evaluations (stress testing, computed tomography coronary angiography, or invasive angiography), but ultimately \<10% are diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). These evaluations cost $3 billion annually and strain health system resources without clear evidence of improved health outcomes or patient experience. The preliminary data suggest that moderate risk patients (35% of patients with chest pain) can be safely managed as outpatients using a cardiovascular ambulatory rapid evaluation (CARE-CP) strategy as an alternative to hospitalization. In the CARE-CP strategy, patients are discharged from the ED and receive outpatient clinic follow-up within 72 hours focused on medical management for cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes) and determining whether further cardiac testing is needed. This strategy aims to enhance patient-centered outcomes while safely and equitably decreasing hospital resource utilization. However, equipoise exists between outpatient and hospitalization strategies for moderate risk patients. There is a paucity of prospective data evaluating the efficacy and patient-centeredness of outpatient chest pain evaluation strategies in moderate risk patients. Thus, it is unclear whether use of an outpatient chest pain management strategy (CARE-CP) will safely reduce healthcare utilization and be preferred by patients compared to a traditional hospitalization strategy. To address this key evidence gap, the study proposes the first prospective multisite randomized trial testing outpatient vs hospitalization strategies in moderate risk patients. The research teams will randomize 502 patients 1:1 to the CARE-CP or hospitalization management arms at three ED sites with a history of high recruitment rates and productive collaborations in cardiovascular clinical trials. The primary outcome will be hospital-free days (HFD) over a 30-day period. This novel trial addresses a key evidence gap by providing guidance on how best to evaluate moderate risk ED patients with acute chest pain. Without this guidance care patterns are likely to remain heterogeneous, inefficient, non-patient-centered, and unguided by the highest level of evidence. We hypothesize that data from this trial will support widespread implementation of a CARE-CP strategy, which could improve the quality and value of care for millions of patients in the U.S. and beyond.
Two Troponin measures \< Sex-Specific Upper Reference Limit
No prior coronary artery disease (CAD)
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients randomized to this arm are discharged and receive outpatient evaluation, or cardiovascular ambulatory rapid evaluation (CARE), focused on medical management for cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. hypertension) within 72 hours of Emergency Department discharge.
Behavioral: Outpatient Evaluation
Patients randomized to this arm receive evaluation for their symptoms in a hospital ward, observation unit, or emergency department boarding.
Behavioral: Hospitalization Evaluation
Subjects will receive an outpatient evaluation within 72 of being discharged from the ED.
Also known as: CARE-CP (Cardiovascular Ambulatory Rapid Evaluation)
Patients randomized to this arm receive evaluation for their symptoms in a hospital ward, observation unit, or emergency department boarding.
Hospital-free days (HFD) at 30-days post-randomization
Time spent in a hospital setting at 30 days post-randomization will be measured and subtracted from time spent outside the hospital. Hospital time is broadly defined, based on a patient-centered definition of cumulative time spent in the ED, observation unit, or hospital ward. Consistent with prior trials, patients who experience death during the follow-up period are assigned zero HFDs.
Time frame: Day 30
Hospital-free days (HFD) at 1-year post-randomization
Time spent in a hospital setting at 1 year post-randomization will be measured and subtracted from time spent outside the hospital. Hospital time is broadly defined, based on a patient-centered definition of cumulative time spent in the ED, observation unit, or hospital ward. Consistent with prior trials, patients who experience death during the follow-up period are assigned zero HFDs.
Time frame: Year 1
Cardiovascular Hospital-free days (HFD) at 30-days post-randomization
Rates of cardiovascular rehospitalizations at 30-days post-randomization will be analyzed between the two treatment arms.
Time frame: Day 30
Cardiovascular Hospital-free days (HFD) at 1 year post-randomization
Rates of cardiovascular rehospitalizations at 1 year post-randomization will be analyzed between the two treatment arms.
Time frame: Year 1
Rate of noninvasive cardiac testing at 30-days post-randomization
The rates of noninvasive testing (stress testing and coronary computed tomography angiography), at 30-days post-randomization will be analyzed between the two treatment arms.
Time frame: Day 30
Rate of noninvasive cardiac testing at 1 year post-randomization
The rates of noninvasive testing (stress testing and coronary computed tomography angiography), at 1 year post-randomization will be analyzed between the two treatment arms.
Time frame: Year 1
Rate of invasive cardiac testing at 30-days post-randomization
The rates of invasive testing (coronary angiography), at 30-days post-randomization will be analyzed between the two treatment arms.
Time frame: Day 30
Rate of invasive cardiac testing at 1 year post-randomization
The rates of invasive testing (coronary angiography), at 1 year post-randomization will be analyzed between the two treatment arms.
Time frame: Year 1
Cardiovascular repeat ED visits at 30-days post-randomization
The rates of Cardiovascular repeat ED visits at 30-days post-randomization will be analyzed between the two treatment arms.The ED visit will be categorized as cardiovascular if a cardiac procedure is performed, the primary reason for admission is possible ACS, or a discharge diagnosis relates to chest pain, MI, ACS, heart failure, or other cardiac disease (e.g., dysrhythmia, pericardial disease, etc.). Cardiac procedures include stress testing, noninvasive and invasive coronary angiography, coronary revascularization, and pacemaker or defibrillator insertion.
Time frame: Day 30
Cardiovascular repeat ED visits at 1 year post-randomization
The rates of Cardiovascular repeat ED visits at 1 year post-randomization will be analyzed between the two treatment arms.The ED visit will be categorized as cardiovascular if a cardiac procedure is performed, the primary reason for admission is possible ACS, or a discharge diagnosis relates to chest pain, MI, ACS, heart failure, or other cardiac disease (e.g., dysrhythmia, pericardial disease, etc.). Cardiac procedures include stress testing, noninvasive and invasive coronary angiography, coronary revascularization, and pacemaker or defibrillator insertion.
Time frame: Year 1
Cardiovascular rehospitalizations at 30-days post-randomization
The rates of Cardiovascular rehospitalizations at 30-days post-randomization will be analyzed between the two treatment arms.The rehospitalization will be categorized as cardiovascular if a cardiac procedure is performed, the primary reason for admission is possible ACS, or a discharge diagnosis relates to chest pain, MI, ACS, heart failure, or other cardiac disease (e.g., dysrhythmia, pericardial disease, etc.). Cardiac procedures include stress testing, noninvasive and invasive coronary angiography, coronary revascularization, and pacemaker or defibrillator insertion.
Time frame: Day 30
Cardiovascular rehospitalizations at 1 year post-randomization
The rates of Cardiovascular rehospitalizations at 1 year post-randomization will be analyzed between the two treatment arms.The rehospitalization will be categorized as cardiovascular if a cardiac procedure is performed, the primary reason for admission is possible ACS, or a discharge diagnosis relates to chest pain, MI, ACS, heart failure, or other cardiac disease (e.g., dysrhythmia, pericardial disease, etc.). Cardiac procedures include stress testing, noninvasive and invasive coronary angiography, coronary revascularization, and pacemaker or defibrillator insertion.
Time frame: Year 1
Patient satisfaction (SAPS questionnaire)
Satisfaction will be assessed using the Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction (SAPS). A patient satisfaction survey will be sent that evaluates clinician communication, participation in medical decision-making, respect by the clinician, clinician carefulness, time with the clinician, and treatment effect, in any service setting on a five-point Likert scale from "very dissatisfied" to "very satisfied". Scores from each item are summed and range from 0 (extremely dissatisfied) to 28 (extremely satisfied).
Time frame: Day 30
Patient experience (GS-PEQ instrument)
Experience will be measured using the Generic Short Patient Experience Questionnaire (GS-PEQ). A patient experience survey will also be sent out to evaluate which assesses timeliness and organization of medical services, confidence in the clinician and treatment, patient involvement in decision-making, clinician communication, patient outcomes, and incorrect treatment on a 5-point Likert-scale from "not at all" to "to a very large extent" and one question (on wait times) scored on a 4-point Likert scale from "no" to "yes, way too long. A mean score can be calculated for each patient, with higher scores indicating better experience.
Time frame: Day 30
Out-of-pocket cost (based on billing data)
Patient satisfaction, patient experience, and out-of-pocket costs will be measured in all trial participants. Financial records will be utilized from each site to determine patient billing, including the amount covered by insurance vs. patient responsibility. Each item will be measured in U.S. dollars and summed for total cost.
Time frame: Day 30
Drivers of Patient Satisfaction and Experience (Qualitative)
A subset of 100 patients (50 from each arm) will be purposively selected to ensure diversity in sex, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and health literacy for 30-minute semi-structured phone interviews to determine key drivers of patient satisfaction and experience. We will use an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, in which participants' quantitative data will guide the collection and analysis of their qualitative data.These data will provide key context and meaning to the patient's quantitative response regarding patient satisfaction, experience, and out-of-pocket cost.
Time frame: Day 30
Plan to share: No
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Wake Forest University Health Sciences