Treating Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes: Applying ACC/AHA Guidelines in Clinical Practice

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is defined by clinical symptoms leading to myocardial ischemia and includes a spectrum of manifestations such as unstable angina, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. These high-risk conditions
are among the most common cardiac emergencies encountered in clinical
practice today, and account for more than 1 million hospitalizations
annually in the United States.

Although many advances have been made in understanding the pathophysiology, treatment, and prevention of ACS, exact diagnosis and optimum treatment of the acute ACS event and for
secondary prevention following ACS remain a challenging issue for
clinicians. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart
Association have published evidence-based guidelines for treating
patients with unstable angina, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial
infarction, and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Applying
these guidelines in clinical practice can aid clinicians in treating
these high-risk patients and optimizing patient outcomes.

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