Exercise testing and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in primary care patients with chest pain of new onset.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the outcome of exercise testing and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) in primary care patients with chest pain of new onset.


METHODS
Prospective, observational. Patients aged 20-79 years, consulting due to chest pain of new onset, were enrolled consecutively.


METHODS
Three primary care health centres in south-eastern Sweden.


METHODS
191 patients where the possibility of stable ischaemic heart disease (IHD) could not be excluded by clinical examination alone.


METHODS
Exercise test results, when equivocal completed by MPS.


RESULTS
Exercise testing revealed IHD in 14 (7%) and no IHD in 134 (70%) of the cases. In 43 (23%) the exercise test results were equivocal. Thirty-nine of these patients underwent MPS, which showed IHD in 19 and no IHD in 20 cases. Among previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease and risk factors only atrial fibrillation in the male group showed a significant correlation to the outcome IHD.


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise testing and MPS are both useful when investigating chest pain patients in primary care.
Scheike
Morten
M
Department of Clinical Physiology, Linköping Heart Center, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden. Morten.Scheike@skane.se
Nilsson
Staffan
S
Nylander
Eva
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D005080:Exercise Test; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012307:Risk Factors