Defensive Medicine in an Emergency Department: The Overuse of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I Testing

Introduction: Cardiac troponin I is routinely measured in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome. However, when a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) test is ordered without a clear clinical indication, unexpectedly elevated levels can lead to unnecessary diagnostic workups and inappropriate management. This study aimed to investigate physicians’ rationale for performing hs-cTnI tests in an emergency department (ED). Methods: In this prospective study, 1890 patients who underwent hs-cTnI measurement during their stay in an ED were included. Upon arrival, patients were classified into two groups based on their chief complaints: cardiac (36.6%) and non-cardiac (63.4%). Forty-seven ED physicians were asked to complete a questionnaire to assess their perspectives on the use of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) testing in the ED. Results: Out of the 47 ED physicians who responded to the questionnaire (94% response rate), 97.9% indicated that the purpose of hs-cTnI testing in the ED was to diagnose an acute cardiac event. However, 38.3% reported ordering hs-cTnI tests in non-cardiac patients due to medicolegal concerns. Additionally, 53% admitted to working under medicolegal pressure, and 50% believe they would have ordered fewer hs-cTnI tests if not for this medicolegal threat. Conclusions: defensive medicine is prevalent among ED physicians, and routine use of hs-cTnI testing as part of an evaluation can be explained in part by concern about liability and defensive medicine.