[Usefulness of clinical profiling and exercise testing in the prognostic assessment of patients admitted with chest pain but without high-risk criteria]. / Utilidad del perfil clínico y la ergometría en la valoración del pronóstico de los pacientes ingresados por dolor torácico sin criterios de alto riesgo.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Few data are available on the outcome of patients admitted to hospital with suspected acute coronary syndrome who have no high-risk factors and who undergo exercise testing before discharge. Our objectives were to investigate outcomes in this group of patients and to determine whether clinical history-taking or exercise testing can help to predict outcome. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The study population comprised 449 patients admitted to hospital with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome. All were judged to be at a low risk of subsequent events (i.e., none had ischemic ECG changes or an elevation in troponin level). They underwent treadmill exercise testing before discharge, after an observation period of at least 12 hours. Exercise testing was performed after clinical evaluation based on an algorithm involving troponin-T level and resting ECG. The median follow-up duration was 479 days. The single combined endpoint was defined as cardiac death, or hospital admission for nonfatal acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina. RESULTS: Adverse events occurred in 44 (10%) of the 449 patients. A high event rate was associated with four clinical features (i.e., age > or =65 years, diabetes, previous acute myocardial infarction, and typical chest pain) and with a positive result on exercise testing. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse events after discharge are not infrequent in patients admitted to hospital with suspected acute coronary syndrome and a low risk profile. Both the patient's clinical characteristics and exercise test results should be taken into account in accurately determining prognosis.

Utilidad del perfil clínico y la ergometría en la valoración del pronóstico de los pacientes ingresados por dolor torácico sin criterios de alto riesgo / Usefulness of clinical profiling and exercise testing in the prognostic assessment of patients admitted with chest pain but without high-risk criteria

Introducción y objetivos. Hay escasa información sobre la evolución de los pacientes hospitalizados por dolor torácico que no presentan criterios de alto riesgo tras su evaluación inicial, a los que se realiza una prueba de esfuerzo para su valoración antes del alta. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar el pronóstico de este grupo de pacientes y averiguar si hay factores clínicos y derivados de la prueba de esfuerzo que permitan predecir su evolución. Pacientes y método. La población estaba constituida por 449 pacientes hospitalizados por dolor torácico de posible origen isquémico, sin criterios de alto riesgo (sin alteraciones isquémicas en el electrocardiograma ni elevación de la troponina), a los que se realizó una prueba de esfuerzo previa al alta, tras un período de observación de al menos 12 h. La mediana de seguimiento fue 479 días. Se consideraron acontecimientos adversos la muerte cardíaca o el reingreso por infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) no mortal o angina inestable. Resultados. De los 449 pacientes, 44 (10%) presentaron algún suceso. En el análisis de regresión de Cox se identificaron como predictores independientes de evolución desfavorable cuatro variables clínicas (edad ≥ 65 años, diabetes, IAM previo y carácter típico del dolor torácico) y una prueba de esfuerzo positiva. Conclusiones. Los pacientes hospitalizados por dolor torácico sin criterios de alto riesgo tras su evaluación inicial, a los que se efectúa una prueba de esfuerzo, no están exentos de sucesos adversos tras el alta. El perfil clínico contribuye, junto con el resultado de la ergometría, a la valoración del riesgo de estos pacientes

Introduction and objectives. Few data are available on the outcome of patients admitted to hospital with suspected acute coronary syndrome who have no high-risk factors and who undergo exercise testing before discharge. Our objectives were to investigate outcomes in this group of patients and to determine whether clinical history-taking or exercise testing can help to predict outcome. Patients and method. The study population comprised 449 patients admitted to hospital with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome. All were judged to be at a low risk of subsequent events (i.e., none had ischemic ECG changes or an elevation in troponin level). They underwent treadmill exercise testing before discharge, after an observation period of at least 12 hours. Exercise testing was performed after clinical evaluation based on an algorithm involving troponin-T level and resting ECG. The median follow-up duration was 479 days. The single combined endpoint was defined as cardiac death, or hospital admission for nonfatal acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina. Results. Adverse events occurred in 44 (10%) of the 449 patients. A high event rate was associated with four clinical features (i.e., age ≥65 years, diabetes, previous acute myocardial infarction, and typical chest pain) and with a positive result on exercise testing. Conclusions. Adverse events after discharge are not infrequent in patients admitted to hospital with suspected acute coronary syndrome and a low risk profile. Both the patient's clinical characteristics and exercise test results should be taken into account in accurately determining prog

[Dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with stable chronic angina and a low- or medium-risk on exercise testing: usefulness for assessing long-term prognosis]. / Ecocardiografía con dobutamina en pacientes con angina crónica estable y ergometría de riesgo bajo o intermedio: utilidad en la valoración del pronóstico a largo plazo.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The ability of stress echocardiography to provide prognostic information that supplements that obtainable from clinical data and exercise electrocardiography is still controversial. Our aim was to determine whether dobutamine stress echocardiography provides additional information on long-term prognosis after conventional exercise testing has indicated that a patient with chronic stable angina has a low or intermediate risk of a cardiac event. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The study included consecutive patients with stable angina who were not found to be at high risk on a previous exercise test. All patients underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography. The mean follow- up period was 4.5+/-1.76 years. The single combined end-point was defined as death due to cardiac disease, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for unstable angina. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent predictors of cardiac events. RESULTS: There were 24 (19%) cardiac events in the 124 participants: four deaths due to cardiac disease, 10 nonfatal myocardial infarctions, and 10 hospitalizations for unstable angina. Associations were found between a higher event rate during follow-up and previous myocardial infarction, Duke treadmill score, and the detection of regional wall motion abnormalities indicative of multivessel disease by stress echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable angina who have undergone an exercise test that indicates that they have a low or intermediate risk of cardiac events, dobutamine stress echocardiography provides additional prognostic information to that obtainable from clinical data and exercise testing.

Ecocardiografía con dobutamina en pacientes con angina crónica estable y ergometría de riesgo bajo o intermedio: utilidad en la valoración del pronóstico a largo plazo / Dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with stable chronic angina and a low- or medium-risk on exercise testing: usefulness for assessing long-term prognosis

Introducción y objetivos. La capacidad de la ecocardiografía de estrés para añadir información pronóstica a los datos clínicos y la prueba de esfuerzo convencional cuando ésta es valorable es motivo de debate. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar si la ecocardiografía con dobutamina aporta información, tras la realización de una prueba de esfuerzo de riesgo bajo o intermedio, en la valoración del pronóstico a largo plazo de la angina estable. Pacientes y método. Se realizó un ecocardiograma con dobutamina en una serie consecutiva de pacientes con angina estable en los que previamente se había efectuado una ergometría que no había mostrado criterios de alto riesgo. El tiempo de seguimiento medio fue de 4,5 ± 1,76 años. Se definió un único criterio de valoración compuesto por la incidencia de muerte cardíaca, infarto de miocardio no mortal u hospitalización por angina inestable. Se realizó un análisis multivariable para determinar los predictores independientes de sucesos. Resultados. De los 124 pacientes incluidos, 24 (19%) presentaron algún suceso (4, muerte cardíaca; 10, infarto de miocardio no mortal, y 10, ingreso hospitalario por angina inestable). El antecedente de infarto de miocardio, la puntuación de Duke de la ergometría y la detección de anomalías de la contractilidad regional correspondientes a enfermedad multivaso mediante el ecocardiograma de estrés se asociaron con una mayor incidencia de acontecimientos en el seguimiento. Conclusiones. En pacientes con angina estable clásica que realizan una prueba de esfuerzo de riesgo bajo o intermedio, la ecocardiografía con dobutamina ofrece información pronóstica adicional a la proporcionada por los datos clínicos y la prueba de esfuerzo

Introduction and objectives. The ability of stress echocardiography to provide prognostic information that supplements that obtainable from clinical data and exercise electrocardiography is still controversial. Our aim was to determine whether dobutamine stress echocardiography provides additional information on long-term prognosis after conventional exercise testing has indicated that a patient with chronic stable angina has a low or intermediate risk of a cardiac event. Patients and method. The study included consecutive patients with stable angina who were not found to be at high risk on a previous exercise test. All patients underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography. The mean follow- up period was 4.5±1.76 years. The single combined end-point was defined as death due to cardiac disease, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for unstable angina. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent predictors of cardiac events. Results. There were 24 (19%) cardiac events in the 124 participants: four deaths due to cardiac disease, 10 nonfatal myocardial infarctions, and 10 hospitalizations for unstable angina. Associations were found between a higher event rate during follow-up and previous myocardial infarction, Duke treadmill score, and the detection of regional wall motion abnormalities indicative of multivessel disease by stress echocardiography. Conclusions. In patients with stable angina who have undergone an exercise test that indicates that they have a low or intermediate risk of cardiac events, dobutamine stress echocardiography provides additional prognostic information to that obtainable from clinical data and exercise testing

Prognosis of patients with unstable angina and low-risk exercise test: significance of ST-segment depression on the admission ECG.

The presence of ST-segment depression on the admission electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important predictor of poor outcome in patients with unstable angina. On the other hand, patients with unstable angina who undergo a low-risk exercise test are supposed to have a favorable prognosis. The objective of the study was to determine the prognostic significance of ST-segment depression on the admission ECG in patients with unstable angina who undergo an exercise test that indicates a low risk of events. An interpretable exercise test was performed in 257 patients with primary unstable angina. A low-risk exercise test was completed by 156 (60%) patients and medical therapy was planned for all these patients. A multivariate analysis was performed in order to determine the independent predictors of events (cardiac death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, or admission for unstable angina) during a 12-month follow-up. Among patients with a low-risk exercise test, there were no significant differences between patients with and without ST-segment depression on the presenting ECG with regard to event rate (34 vs. 29%, P=NS). In multivariate analysis, ST-segment depression was not related to a higher incidence of events. Our findings appear to indicate that the presence of ST-segment depression on the admission ECG loses its prognostic significance in patients with primary unstable angina if they complete a low-risk exercise test.

Prueba de esfuerzo de bajo riesgo en pacientes con angina inestable: ¿implica un pronóstico favorable? / Low risk exercise treadmill test in patients with unstable angina: does it mean a good prognosis?

Introducción y objetivos. La prueba de esfuerzo de bajo riesgo se relaciona con un buen pronóstico en los pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica crónica. Sin embargo, apenas existen estudios que hayan evaluado prospectivamente el pronóstico de los pacientes con angina inestable controlada con tratamiento médico y que realizan una prueba de esfuerzo de bajo riesgo. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar el pronóstico de esta población específica y si existen variables clínicas o derivadas de la ergometría predictoras de eventos. Métodos. Se diseñó un protocolo de estudio prospectivo, según el cual se evaluaron 175 pacientes con diagnóstico de angina inestable, a los que se realizó una prueba de esfuerzo para la valoración pronostica antes del alta hospitalaria durante un período de dos años. La población de estudio estaba constituida por los 93 pacientes (un 82 por ciento de varones; edad: 60 ñ 9 años) que no presentaron criterios de alto riesgo previamente definidos en la prueba de esfuerzo y fueron dados de alta con tratamiento farmacológico. Resultados. Tras un período de seguimiento medio de 13 ñ 6 meses, 30 pacientes (32 por ciento) padecieron algún evento: 2 muertes (2 por ciento); 6 infarto agudo de miocardio no mortal (6 por ciento); 18 angina inestable (19 por ciento) y 4 revascularización (4 por ciento). En el análisis multivariado, sólo la angina durante la prueba de esfuerzo fue un predictor independiente de eventos ( odds ratio: 2,35; intervalo de confianza del 95 por ciento: 1,22-4,50; p = 0,01). Conclusiones. Los pacientes con angina inestable que realizan una ergometría de bajo riesgo y son dados de alta con tratamiento médico tienen una incidencia de eventos relativamente elevada durante el primer año. En esta población específica, la presencia de angina durante la ergometría se asocia a una evolución desfavorable (AU)