Does beta adrenergic blockade influence the prognostic implications of post-myocardial infarction exercise testing?
The influence of beta blockade on the ability of ST depression, during pre-discharge exercise testing, to predict coronary anatomy and subsequent complications was studied in 300 consecutive post-infarct patients, 125 of whom underwent cardiac catheterisation. At the time of exercise 62 patients were taking a beta blocker. The exercise test had a higher sensitivity in predicting multivessel disease in patients who were not taking beta blockers than in patients who were (95% v 76%). beta Blockade did not, however, influence the ability of the test to identify patients at risk of subsequent cardiac events (sensitivity 84% and 85% respectively). These results suggest that it is not necessary to stop treatment with beta blockers before predischarge exercise testing of patients who have had an acute myocardial infarction.
Murray
D P
DP
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Birmingham, East Birmingham Hospital.
Tan
L B
LB
Salih
M
M
Weissberg
P
P
Murray
R G
RG
Littler
W A
WA
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists