Defined as substernal pain in the absence of significant epicardial coronary artery stenosis.
Prevalence in population based studies is 23% (Locke JR).
Non-cardiac chest pain causes include: musculoskeletal conditions, comprising approximately 25-50% of cases, Gastrointestinal causes in 10-20% of cases, respiratory symptoms such as upper and lower respiratory tract infections, asthma, and COPD account for approximately 12% of cases.
Psychological conditions, such as anxiety and panic disorders and associated chest pain make up an additional 10% of cases.
GERD most prevalent cause, accounting up to 60% of cases of non cardiac chest pain.
Prevalence of GERD noted by pH monitoring in noncardiac chest pain is 41-43% (Ahmed T, Lacrima G).
Men with nonspecific chest pain and normal cardiac evaluation have a higher cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death rate identified in a 16 year cohort study (Wilhelmsen).