What percentage of patients with unstable angina may have a normal EKG?

Patients with unstable angina can indeed present with a normal electrocardiogram (EKG), despite having significant coronary artery disease and experiencing symptoms. Research indicates that approximately 25% of patients presenting with unstable angina show a normal EKG during their initial assessment. This finding underscores the importance of a comprehensive clinical evaluation beyond just relying on EKG results, especially since unstable angina can still be present even when the EKG appears normal. Monitoring symptoms and additional diagnostic testing such as stress testing, serum markers, or imaging may be necessary to accurately assess the patient's cardiac condition. This statistic is a crucial element in understanding the variability in EKG findings among patients with acute coronary syndromes.