ECG (electrocardiogram) tests, which are commonly given to people with suspected angina to predict the likelihood future of heart disease, have limited accuracy.
Scientists have claimed that ECG (electrocardiogram) tests, which are commonly given to people with suspected angina to predict the likelihood future of heart disease, have limited accuracy.
Angina is the most common symptom of coronary artery disease. Patients are assessed at rapid access chest pain clinics, designed to ensure that a specialist can assess people who develop new symptoms of suspected angina within two weeks of referral.
Doctors as Good as ECG or EKG in Spotting Heart Disease: Study
A routine examination by a doctor works almost as well as an electrocardiogram - better known as an ECG or EKG - in predicting heart disease, according to a study published Friday.
A routine examination by a doctor works almost as well as an electrocardiogram - better known as an ECG or EKG - in predicting heart disease, according to a study published Friday.
The authors said that this could improve the chances of detecting people at higher risk of future heart disease and heart attacks.
The most commonly performed non-invasive test used in suspected angina patients is the immediate assessment using ECG while patients are resting and when they are exercising, but its ability to predict future heart disease is unknown.
Mini ECG to Help Monitor Heart Attack Rehab Patients
Scientists at Queensland University of Technology's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation have developed a unique 'Cardiomobile' monitoring system that acts as a mini ECG,
Scientists at Queensland University of Technology's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation have developed a unique 'Cardiomobile' monitoring system that acts as a mini ECG,
All the patients were clinically assessed (studying data such as age, sex, ethnicity, duration of symptoms, description of chest pain, smoking status, history of hypertension, medications) as well as having an ECG done while they were resting.
Advertisements
Heart Screening may Help to Reduce Deaths in Competitive Athletes
Athletes who take part in competitive sport should be screened for potentially fatal heart problems before they compete.
Athletes who take part in competitive sport should be screened for potentially fatal heart problems before they compete.
It was found that close to fifty percent of all coronary 'events' that happened to people during the follow up period occurred in patients who had had a negative exercise ECG that did not indicate any heart problems.
Advertisements
Angioplasty Reduces Long-term Cardiac Risk in Heart Patients With 'silent' Ischemia
Cardiac ischemia is caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle tissue.
Cardiac ischemia is caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle tissue.
They found that a routine clinical assessment provided almost as much predictive information about future heart problems as having an ECG.
The resting ECG showed no additional benefit to the information obtained from the history and examination.
The authors concluded that ECG tests are of limited value in identifying potential future coronary problems in patients with suspected angina and no prior diagnosis of heart disease, adding little to routine clinical assessment including the patient's history and an examination.
The researchers said: "The limited incremental value of these widely applied tests emphasises the need for more effective methods of risk stratification in this group of patients."
Source-ANI
SPH
