The prognostic value of a QRS score during exercise testing.
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.
Michaelides
Andreas P
AP
Exercise Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, A' Cardiology Clinic, Medical School of Athens University, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece. aigyptiadou@yahoo.gr
Aigyprladou
Maria-Niki K
MN
Andrikopoulos
George K
GK
Richter
Dimitris J
DJ
Kartalis
Athanasios
A
Tapanlis
Evstratios
E
Fourlas
Christros A
CA
Stefanadis
Christodoulos I
CI
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