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Characteristics and outcomes of patients with abnormal stress echocardiograms and angiographically mild coronary artery disease (<50% stenoses) or normal coronary arteries.

Authors :
From AM
Kane G
Bruce C
Pellikka PA
Scott C
McCully RB
Source :
Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography [J Am Soc Echocardiogr] 2010 Feb; Vol. 23 (2), pp. 207-14.
Publication Year :
2010

Abstract

Background: Abnormal cardiac stress imaging findings are not always associated with angiographically significant coronary artery disease. The outcomes of patients with such false-positive findings have not been extensively examined. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients with abnormal stress echocardiographic findings who had false-positive results compared with those who had true-positive results.&lt;br /&gt;Methods: Of 1,477 consecutive patients (mean age, 66 +/- 12 years; 61% men) with abnormal stress echocardiographic findings who underwent coronary arteriography within 30 days, death from any cause was ascertained.&lt;br /&gt;Results: At coronary arteriography, 997 patients (67.5%) had true-positive results, defined by the presence of angiographically significant coronary artery disease (&gt; or = 50% stenoses), and 480 (32.5%) had false-positive results, defined by &lt;50% stenoses or normal coronary arteries. Of the subgroup of patients with markedly abnormal stress echocardiographic findings (n = 605), 28% had &lt;50% stenoses or normal coronary arteries. During an average follow-up period of 2.4 +/- 1.0 years, there were 140 deaths. The adjusted likelihood of subsequent death for patients with &lt;50% stenoses compared to patients with &gt; or = 50% stenoses after abnormal stress echocardiography was 1.05 (95% confidence interval, 0.86-1.31; P = .62).&lt;br /&gt;Conclusions: A sizable proportion of patients with abnormal stress echocardiographic results who are referred for coronary angiography have false-positive findings. The outcomes of patients with false-positive results were similar to those of patients with true-positive results. This finding suggests that patients with false-positive results on stress echocardiography should still receive intensive risk factor management and careful clinical follow-up.&lt;br /&gt; (Copyright 2010 American Society of Echocardiography. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1097-6795
Volume :
23
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
20152703
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echo.2009.11.023