Radboudumc-research wins the Science and Innovation Award of FMS Award for study into hospital visit for chest pain

Research from Radboudumc, the ARTICA trial, has been named the winner of the 2025 Science and Innovation Award by the Federation of Medical Specialists. This study, led by cardiologist Cyril Camaro and his team, demonstrated that it is safe and effective to rule out a heart attack at home by ambulance personnel in cases of chest pain, rather than in the hospital. This approach could save around 40 million euros annually.

'We are incredibly proud. We would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to our research, which is driving a nationwide change in the care for patients with chest pain', said Camaro.

Hospital visit for chest pain not always necessary

Nearly 900 people with chest pain participated in the study. Ambulance professionals assessed the risk of an acute coronary syndrome based on the HEAR-score, including history, electrocardiogram [ECG], age and risk factors. Patients with a high risk for an acute coronary syndrome were directly transported to the hospital. In patients with a low risk HEAR score, ambulance paramedics performed a pre-hospital troponin measurement. The protein troponin is released when the heart is damaged, and is an indication of a heart attack.

Were troponin levels high? Then the patient went straight to the hospital. But if the troponin level was low, then the patient remained at home, provided with further instructions such as contact with the general practitioner. All patients were followed up to 30 days after the event. The researchers investigated whether a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) occurred during that period.

The chance of MACE was very small. In the patient group that stayed at home with a low troponin level, a major heart problem occurred in 0.5% of cases, in the group that went to the hospital with a low troponin level this was 1.0%. 

Read more in this news release of Radboudumc, including the publication. 

More information and the jury comments are in this news release of FMS (in Dutch).

Photo by FMS.