BMJ : British medical journal
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To assess the relation between troponin concentration, assay precision, and clinical outcomes in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome. ⋯ Lowering the diagnostic threshold to the 99th centile and accepting greater assay imprecision would identify more patients with acute coronary syndrome at risk of recurrent myocardial infarction and death but would increase the diagnosis of myocardial infarction by 47%. It remains to be established whether reclassification of these patients and treatment for myocardial infarction would improve outcome.
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To investigate the association between low functional health literacy (ability to read and understand basic health related information) and mortality in older adults. ⋯ A third of older adults in England have difficulties reading and understanding basic health related written information. Poorer understanding is associated with higher mortality. The limited health literacy capabilities within this population have implications for the design and delivery of health related services for older adults in England.