Exercise treadmill test may predict clinical outcome among working-aged patients suspected of coronary heart disease in general practice.
OBJECTIVE
To specify the diagnostic value of treadmill tests conducted in primary health care by trained GPs for working-aged patients.


METHODS
A two-year follow-up study.


METHODS
Kangasala Health Centre, Finland.


METHODS
All patients under the age of 60 (n = 348) examined by exercise treadmill test carried out by trained GPs during a period of three years.


METHODS
The number of patients having a diagnosis of coronary heart disease at the end of two years' follow-up. Predictive values of the exercise test.


RESULTS
During the two years' follow-up period CHD was diagnosed in six of the patients who did not yield a positive finding in the test. A negative finding in the test was very reliable; coronary heart disease manifested in only 2% of these cases. Almost half of the patients yielding a positive finding ended up having coronary angiography and 1 in 10 underwent coronary bypass surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Among working-aged patients suspected of coronary heart disease an exercise treadmill test may predict clinical outcome in general practice.
Sumanen
Markku
M
Kangasala Health Centre, Finland. markku.sumanen@kolumbus.fi
Jussila
Mauri
M
Mattila
Kari
K
D000328:Adult; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity