Diagnostic Value of Exercise Testing in Women Suspected of Coronary Heart Disease

To determine the diagnostic value of exercise testing (ET) for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) in women, exercise variables were compared with the findings of coronary arteriography in 62 cases. The study was carried out retrospectively in 62 women ranging in age from 35 to 73 (mean: 51±8). Of these, coronary arteries were found to be normal in 41 and CAD was diagnosed in21. Chest pain during exercise testing, 1 mm ST segment depression, "adjusted ST" (?ST/?HR) and an increase or no change in R wave with exercise were the analysed variables. Of the 41 cases with normal coronary arteries, 20 had chest pain, 10 had 1 mm ST depression, ?ST/?HR was-found to be ischemic in 7 and abnormal R wave response was observed in 19. Of the patients with CAD, 15 had chest pain, 15 had 1 mm ST depression, ?ST/?HR was ischemic in 15 and R wave response was abnormal in 15. Thus, the sensitivity of all variables was found to be 71 % and their specificities were 53 %, 76 %, 85 % and 54 % respectively. These results suggest that the use of ?ST/?HR increases the diagnostic yield of the ET for CAD in women.