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Utility of cardiopulmonary exercise test is unknown in patients with aortic stenosis. In this retrospective study, we examined the maximal indexes of cardiopulmonary testing at peak exercise in 155 consecutive patients with aortic valve area of ≤1.5 cm2 who were referred for this test. The patients were passively followed up to assess their effect on the primary end point of all-cause mortality. We found that the absolute peak oxygen consumption (VO2) was significantly reduced in these patients, with age and gender–predicted peak VO2 of 80 ± 23%. Peak VO2 was markedly reduced (<80% of predicted) in 54% of patients. During a follow-up of 5 ± 4 years, a total of 41 patients died, and 72 underwent aortic valve replacement. Survival was significantly better in patients with higher absolute peak VO2 (hazard ratio [HR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80 to 0.93, p <0.001) and higher oxygen pulse (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.9, p <0.001). In 83 patients who did not undergo valve replacement, higher peak VO2 and oxygen pulse were associated with better survival (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.97, p = 0.024 and HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.96, p = 0.02, respectively). In conclusion, the peak VO2 is significantly reduced in patients with aortic stenosis. Higher peak VO2 is independently associated with better survival in these patients irrespective of whether they undergo valve replacement.

Despite a high prevalence of coronary heart disease in both genders, studies show a gender disparity in evaluation whereby women are less likely than men to undergo timely or comprehensive cardiac investigation. Using videographic analysis, we sought to quantify gender differences in provider recommendations and patient evaluations. We analyzed video recordings from our Chest Pain Choice trial, a single center patient-level randomized trial in which emergency department patients with chest pain being considered for cardiac stress testing were randomized to shared decision-making or usual care. Patient-provider interactions were video recorded. We compared characteristics and outcomes by gender. Of the 204 patients enrolled (101 decision aid; 103 usual care), 120 (58.8%) were female. Of the 75 providers evaluated, 20 (26.7%) were female. The mean (SD) pretest probability of acute coronary syndrome was lower in women [3.7% (2.2) vs 6.7% (4.4), P=.0002]. There was no gender effect on duration of discussion, clinician recommendations, OPTION scores, patient perceptions, or eventual patient dispositions. When the clinician and patient gender matched, OPTION scores were lower (interaction P=.002), and patients were less likely to find the information to be very helpful (interaction P=.10). Despite a lower pretest probability of acute coronary syndrome in women, we did not observe any significant gender disparity in how patients were managed and evaluated. When the patients' and providers' gender matched, the provider involved them less in the decision making process, and the information provided was less helpful than when the genders did not match.

Class Ic antiarrhythmic agents are effective in the treatment of various atrial tachyarrhythmias. They are known to cause rate-related QRS widening in the presence of structural heart disease, which can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias. The role of routine exercise electrocardiography in patients without structural heart disease is unknown. All patients initiated on class Ic antiarrhythmic agents and who had exercise electrocardiography performed from June 2009 to June 2013 were included. Symptom-limited treadmill electrocardiography was performed to detect significant QRS widening at peak exercise (defined as an increase of >25% of baseline QRS). Fifty-six patients were included in the study. All patients were screened for structural heart disease before initiation of the medication. Significant QRS widening and atrial tachycardia occurred in a single patient, which terminated with cessation of exercise. This patient had a history of tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy with normalization of ejection fraction 3 years before being placed on flecainide. In conclusion, routine exercise testing to detect QRS widening is not warranted in patients with no structural heart disease.

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) appears comparable to standard care, including exercise stress testing (EST), in diagnosing acute coronary syndrome in emergency department (ED) patients with chest pain but may increase downstream testing. The objective of this study was to investigate rates of post-CCTA versus post-EST testing for (1) invasive angiography and (2) all combined cardiac testing. This was a retrospective cohort study performed at 2 urban Canadian EDs involving patients aged up to 65 years with chest pain but no objective ACS findings that were evaluated with CCTA or EST at the physician's discretion. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who had 30-day invasive angiography in each group; secondary outcomes included all subsequent 30-day cardiac testing, including nuclear medicine scanning. From July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2014, we collected 1,700 patients: 521 CCTA and 1,179 EST. Demographics and risk factors were similar in both cohorts. In the following 30 days, 30 CCTA (5.8%) and 297 EST (25.2%) patients underwent any type of additional cardiac testing (difference 19.4%, 95% CI 16.0 to 22.6), whereas 12 CCTA (2.3%) and 20 EST patients (1.7%) underwent angiography (difference 0.6%, 95% CI −0.8% to 2.6%). No patients in either group died or had a myocardial infarction within 30 days. For ED patients with chest pain who underwent brief observation, CCTA and EST had similar 30-day angiography rates, but CCTA patients underwent significantly less overall cardiac investigations.

Millions of Americans with suspected coronary artery disease undergo noninvasive cardiac stress testing annually. Downstream procedures and subsequent outcomes among symptomatic patients without known coronary disease referred for stress testing are not well characterized in contemporary community practice. We examined administrative insurance billing data from a national insurance provider from November 2004 through June 2007. After excluding patients with prior cardiac disease or chest pain evaluation, we identified 80,676 people age 40 to 64 years with outpatient cardiac stress testing within 30 days after an office visit for chest pain. We evaluated rates of invasive coronary angiography, coronary revascularization, and cardiovascular events after stress testing. Within 60 days, only 8.8% of stress test patients underwent cardiac catheterization and only 2.7% underwent revascularization; within 1 year, only 0.5% died and had myocardial infarction or stroke. There were marked geographic variations in 1-year rates of catheterization (3.8%-14.8%) and revascularization (1.2%-3.0%) across 20 hospital referral regions. In this large national cohort of middle-aged patients without previously coded cardiac diagnosis who were referred for stress testing after outpatient chest pain evaluation, few proceeded to invasive angiography or revascularization, and subsequent cardiovascular events were infrequent.

[...]the estimated time to reach a defined risk of nonfatal MI and cardiac death ranged widely from 145 months (95% confidence interval 125 to 175) in patients without diabetes and preserved ejection fraction (EF) to only 12 months (95% confidence interval 6 to 28) in patients with diabetes and reduced EF in 1 propensity-matched study.7 Risk prognostication scores could help define which clinical, historical, or index test characteristics are most valuable in affirming the duration of a warranty period.6 Careful implementation of warranty periods for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk populations could be useful adjuncts to clinicians seeking cost-effective methods of serially testing patients with suspected or known CAD. [...]there remains a major role for joint patient-physician decision-making, as patients may opt to accept a certain false positive rate as a trade-off to increased detection of cardiovascular disease over time.

Outpatient stress testing (OST) after evaluation in the emergency department (ED) is an acceptable evaluation method for patients presenting to the ED with low-risk chest pain (CP). However, not all patients return for OST. Barriers to follow-up evaluation exist and are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the influence of demographic and social characteristics on OST compliance. Data were collected on low-risk CP patients with scheduled OSTs. OST compliance was assessed and then analyzed for correlation with potential barriers including insurance type; age; sex; race; employment status; the distance the patient lived from the hospital; whether or not the patient had a primary care physician; whether or not the patient had a history of hypertension or diabetes; and whether or not the patient had a history of tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drug use. A total of 275 patients were enrolled over a 5-month period. These patients had an OST follow-up rate of 61.82% within 72hours of discharge from the ED. Patients with Medicaid were statistically less likely (odds ratio [OR], 0.439) to complete OST. Patients with commercial insurance (OR, 1.8225), who were employed (OR, 2.299), or who were retired (OR, 3.44) were more likely to complete OST. All of the other variables analyzed were not statistically significant factors in OST compliance. More than one-third of low-risk CP patients do not follow-up with scheduled OST. Of the variables analyzed, both employment status and insurance type were statistically significant and should be included in risk stratification strategies for OST.

In evaluating patients with chest pain, emergency department observation units (EDOUs) may use a staffing model in which emergency physicians determine patient testing (EP model) or a model similar to a chest pain unit (CPU) in which cardiologists determine provocative testing (CPU model). We performed a prospective study with 30-day telephone follow-up for all chest pain patients placed in our EDOU. Halfway through the study period, our EDOU transitioned from an EP model to a CPU model. We compared provocative testing rates and outcomes between the 2 models. Over the 34-month study period, our EDOU evaluated 1190 patients for chest pain. Patients placed in the EDOU during the 17-month CPU model were more likely to be moderate risk (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction score 3-5) than those during the 17-month EP model: 24.9% vs 18.8%, P = .011. Despite this difference, rates of provocative testing (stress testing or coronary computed tomography) were lower during the CPU model: 47.1% vs 56.5%, P = .001. This reduction was particularly evident among low-risk patients (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction score 0-2): 49.8% vs 58.1%, P = .011. Rates of myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass graft were similar between the 2 groups (2.8% vs 3.2%, P = .140). We noted no significant events or missed diagnoses in either group during the 30-day follow-up. An EDOU model that used mandatory cardiology consultation resulted in decreased provocative testing, particularly among low-risk chest pain patients. Future research should explore the cost-effectiveness of this model.

To assess stress single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and stress echocardiography use after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and their effect on referral for coronary angiography and revascularization. The referral, timing, and results of stress imaging after CABG; referral for coronary angiography and revascularization; and all-cause mortality were assessed in this longitudinal, population-based, retrospective study of 1138 Olmsted County, Minnesota, patients undergoing CABG between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 2003. A total of 570 patients (50.1%) underwent a stress imaging study (341 SPECT and 229 echocardiography) during the study period. Of the 1138 patients, 372 (32.7%) were referred for coronary angiography, and 144 of those patients (12.7%) underwent repeated revascularization (132 percutaneous revascularization and 12 CABG). The median interval between CABG and the index stress imaging study was 3.0 years (25th-75th percentile, 1.2-5.7 years). The results of 75.7% (258 of 341) of the stress SPECT studies and 70.7% (162 of 229) of the stress echocardiograms were abnormal. Seventy-six of 570 patients (13.3%) referred for stress imaging underwent coronary angiography within 180 days after the stress test. Repeated coronary revascularization was performed in 25 patients (4.4%) who underwent a stress imaging study within the preceding 180 days. The 5- and 10-year survival rates in the entire study cohort (83.5% and 65.1%, respectively) were not significantly different than predicted for the age- and sex-matched Minnesota population. Half of this community-based population of patients with CABG underwent stress SPECT or echocardiography during median follow-up of 8.9 years. Despite that approximately 75% of the results of stress imaging studies were abnormal, subsequent referral for coronary angiography within 180 days was low (13.3%), and the yield for repeated revascularization was very low (4.4%).

Evidence demonstrating the potential value of noninvasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to accurately detect exercise-induced myocardial ischemia is emerging. This case-based concept report describes CPET abnormalities in an asymptomatic at-risk man with suspected early-stage ischemic heart disease. When CPET was repeated 1 year after baseline assessment, his cardiovascular function had worsened, and an anti-atherosclerotic regimen was initiated. When the patient was retested after 3.3 years, the diminished left ventricular function had reversed with pharmacotherapy directed at decreasing cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease. Thus, in addition to identifying appropriate patients in need of escalating therapy for atherosclerosis, CPET was useful in monitoring progression and reversal of abnormalities of the coronary circulation in a safe and cost-effective manner without the use of radiation. Serial CPET parameters may be useful to track changes marking the progression and/or regression of the underlying global ischemic burden.