Great Western Hospital ahead of the curve on improving heart attack diagnosis for women

Recent national media coverage has highlighted growing awareness that women can experience heart attacks differently from men and that historic approaches to diagnosis may have missed some women who were suffering heart muscle damage. 

However, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has already been using a more tailored approach to diagnosing heart attacks in men and women since 2018, helping to ensure women receive accurate assessment and appropriate treatment.

One of the key tests used to diagnose a heart attack measures levels of cardiac troponin, a protein released into the bloodstream when the heart muscle is damaged. Research has shown that women generally have smaller hearts than men and therefore may have lower troponin levels even when experiencing significant cardiac injury. Using the same diagnostic threshold for everyone risks missing some women with heart damage.  

Recognising this, Great Western Hospitals introduced sex-specific troponin reference ranges. By adopting different thresholds for men and women, clinicians have been able to identify patients more accurately and ensure those requiring further investigation or treatment receive it promptly.

The Trust is sharing this update for World Patient Safety Day, which highlights the importance of improving patient safety across healthcare systems worldwide. Using sex-specific troponin thresholds is one example of how clinical practice can be adapted to reduce the risk of missed diagnoses and ensure patients receive the right treatment as quickly as possible.

The approach reflects the Trust's commitment to evidence-based care and reducing health inequalities by recognising important biological differences between patients.

As discussions continue nationally about improving outcomes for women with heart disease, Great Western Hospitals is reassuring local communities that this approach has already been embedded within its cardiac services for several years.

The Trust's strong performance in the treatment of heart attack patients is reflected in consistently low mortality rates, demonstrating the high quality of care provided by clinical teams across emergency, cardiology and acute services.

Heart disease remains a major health issue for women and symptoms can sometimes present differently from those traditionally associated with heart attacks. Alongside chest pain, women may experience symptoms including shortness of breath, nausea, unusual fatigue, indigestion-like discomfort, back pain or jaw pain. Anyone experiencing potential heart attack symptoms should seek urgent medical attention by calling 999. 

For more information about heart attack symptoms, visit the NHS website or seek advice from a healthcare professional.