Updated advice for heart attack treatment released

People suffering heart attacks and angina in Australia will now be diagnosed and treated faster and more effectively thanks to a new clinical guideline for acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Last week’s launch of the new guideline comes as the Heart Foundation reminds people not to delay phoning Triple Zero if they experience symptoms.

The ACS guideline provides doctors and emergency department healthcare workers with the most up to date tools and recommendations to diagnose potential heart attacks and angina.

One of the key updates is the inclusion of a new treatment pathway, which involves using a more sensitive blood test to help doctors in emergency departments more rapidly determine if chest pain is a heart attack or not.

Troponin is a protein that is released into the blood when heart cells are damaged.

Heart Foundation chief medical adviser Professor Garry Jennings said the new treatment pathway more strongly recommended a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin blood test, which would allow healthcare professionals to more quickly and accurately detect heart attacks when people presented for care.

As part of the launch, the Heart Foundation is reminding people to be aware of heart attack symptoms and call Triple Zero (000) immediately – even if unsure.

“Every minute matters with a heart attack,” Professor Jennings said.

“We still have delays in people presenting for evaluation of heart attack in Australia and that’s something not for the clinicians, but for patients to consider the warning signs and act on them without delay.”

In addition to the initial diagnosis and treatment of heart attack, the new guideline includes recommendations to support a person’s recovery and reduce their risk of a repeat event.

These recommendations underpin the Heart Foundation’s MyHeart MyLife patient support program, designed to help people who have had a heart attack or been diagnosed with coronary heart disease to reduce the risk of another event and improve their quality of life.

Key updates in the new guideline include:

• New treatment pathway using high-sensitivity cardiac troponin blood tests for faster and more accurate diagnosis of heart attacks
• Stronger recommendations on the timing of heart attack treatment to improve a person’s chance of survival and quality of life
• New advice on blood thinning medicines used to prevent repeat heart attacks in the long term
• New treatment target for cholesterol
• How to manage specific types of heart attack and serious complications, including new advice on the management of SCAD, a condition more commonly experienced by women
• Practice points which address the unique needs of priority populations with suspected or confirmed ACS including women, older adults, First Nation peoples and people living in regional and remote areas, and
• Best practice care after discharge from hospital, including mental health support for better health and quality of life after a heart attack.