title: The prognostic value of a QRS score during exercise testing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Values of a QRS score have been positively related to the number of narrowed coronary arteries and to the extent of myocardial ischemia in radionuclide imaging techniques.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to evaluate the potential prognostic information of abnormal values of this QRS score during treadmill exercise testing in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 309 patients (258 men, 51 women, mean age 56.1 +/- 10.0 years) with documented CAD, underwent a treadmill exercise test and coronary arteriography at baseline. Subsequently, they were prospectively followed to a maximum of 36 months (mean follow-up 23 +/- 13 months, median 25 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the follow-up period, 20 patients (6.5%) died from acute myocardial infarction. Abnormal QRS score values were found to be significantly and independently associated with cardiac mortality (QRS < or = -4: relative risk 11.7; 95% confidence interval = 2.5-55.4; p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taking into consideration the importance of exercise testing in the management of ischemic heart disease, the use of this QRS score could be of clinical value in predicting the outcome of patients with documented CAD.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, A' Cardiology Clinic, Medical School of Athens University, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece. aigyptiadou@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Andreas P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Michaelides
authors.forename: Maria-Niki K
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Aigyprladou
authors.forename: George K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Andrikopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitris J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kartalis
authors.forename: Evstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tapanlis
authors.forename: Christros A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fourlas
authors.forename: Christodoulos I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity