[Importance of the physical load test for detecting heart rhythm disturbances in patients who have had a myocardial infarct]

The article discusses the data on the detection of ventricular extrasytole by means of the load test on a bicycle ergometer in 150 patients who had suffered from myocardial infarction. Much more patients with latent disorders of rhythm are detected by the load test than by means of the standard ECG recorded at rest. It was noted that the ventricular extrasystole became more detectable with the increase in the rate of cardiac contractions, in the degree to which the maximum pulse during the load test exceeded the pulse at rest, in the systolic arterial pressure, and with the raise in the level of the load. Patients in whom extrasystole was revealed and the test was discontinued before reaching a high level of cardiac rhythm had more complicated disorders of rhythm and the prognosis in such cases was poorer.