title: Predictive variables for hard cardiac events and coronary revascularization in patients with normal left ventricular myocardial perfusion and systolic function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of clinical, electrocardiographic and stress testing variables in predicting hard cardiac events (HE) and coronary revascularization (CR) in patients with normal stress-rest gated SPECT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included in the study were 2,004 patients (63.5 ± 12.5 years, 41.6% men) with normal myocardial perfusion and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >50% on gated SPECT who were followed for HE (cardiovascular death or acute myocardial infarction) and CR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a follow-up of 4.3 ± 2.4 years, 33 patients (1.6 %; 0.4%/year) had HE and 50 patients (2.5%; 0.6%/year) underwent CR. In a univariate analysis, age ≥65 years, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), left bundle branch block (LBBB), and pharmacological stress were associated with HE. Independent predictors of HE were age ≥65 years (p < 0.001; HR 6.9), IDDM (p = 0.014; HR 3.4), and LBBB (p = 0.002; HR 4.6). In the univariate analysis, male gender, LVEF, known coronary artery disease (CAD), LBBB, and a positive stress test were associated with CR. Independent predictors of CR were known CAD (p = 0.016; HR 2.1), and a positive stress test (p = 0.006; HR 2.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age ≥65 years, IDDM, and LBBB are HE-independent predictors in patients with normal myocardial perfusion and normal LVEF on gated SPECT. The presence of known CAD or a positive stress test significantly increases the probability of CR during follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Institut de Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. guirom@adinet.com.uy
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romero-Farina
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Candell-Riera
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aguadé-Bruix
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cuberas-Borrós
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferreira-González
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazarena Pizzi
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de León
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: García-Dorado
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D055426:Cardiac-Gated Single-Photon Emission Computer-Assisted Tomography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013599:Systole; D016276:Ventricular Function