EXERCISE TOLERANCE TEST

A SCREENING TOOL TO DETECT LATENT CAD IN ASYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS WITH RISK FACTORS FOR CAD.

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the role of Exercise Tolerance Test as a
screening tool for coronary artery disease, in asymptomatic men who had one or more risk factors for developing
ischemic heart disease. Design: A descriptive study. Place and Time Period: Department of Medicine PAF Hospital
Mushaf Sarghoda from March 2004 to March 2005. Patients and Methods: A total no of 100 asymptomatic men age
25-50 years with mean age of 38 years were included in the study. They were divided in to five groups according to
number of risk factors they had for developing CAD. Following risk factors were included in the study (hypertension,
diabetes ,smoking, obesity, hyper-lipidemia, family history of CAD.). All of them underwent E.T.T over treadmill using
modified Bruce protocol. Test was considered positive if 2mm or more ST segment depression was noted .those tested
positive had coronary angiogram done to confirmed IHD. Results: Seven out of 100 tested positive for IHD on E.T.T.
Those tested positive underwent coronary angiography 6 out of seven showed significant narrowing of coronary
arteries and 1 had normal angiogram. These results showed that E.T.T has a 76% sensitivity and 87% Specificity.
Conclusion: E.T.T is an important, reliable and cost effective test to detect latent CAD in asymptomatic persons who
had multiple risk factors for developing CAD.