The decision on whether non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients should be admitted to intensive care units (ICU) takes into account clinical presentation, hemodynamic status and hospital routines [1]. Importantly, there is significant inter-hospital variation in determining ICU admission for NSTEMI, minimal difference in the risk profiles of patients admitted and not admitted to the ICU, and a lack of association between ICU utilization and clinical outcomes [2,3,4]. In Brazil, NSTEMI patients are often treated in ICUs both in public or private hospitals, depending on bed availability.