Application of the TIMI Risk Score for ST-Elevation MI in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction 3

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Abstract
Effective risk stratification is integral to management of acute coronary syndromes.1 Even among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), for whom initial therapeutic options are well-defined, patient risk characteristics impact short- and long-term medical decision making.2-4 Early risk assessment guides triage to alternative levels of hospital care, decisions regarding therapeutic interventions, and application of clinical pathways that direct patient care and use of clinical resources. Despite well-characterized risk predictors,5-7 reliable quantitative estimation of risk is challenging, as patients present with complex risk profiles requiring integration of numerous elements of qualitative and quantitative data. Thus, practical tools that enhance clinicians' ability to rapidly and accurately assess risk are of substantial interest.