AIMS: To determine whether performing a myocardial scintigraphy immediately after a maximal electrocardiogram (ECG) stress test is effective in detecting silent coronary stenoses and predicting cardiovascular events. METHODS: Asymptomatic patients (n = 262) aged 57.6 +/- 8.8 years, with diabetes for 12.0 years (5-39) [median (range)] and no history of a cardiac event, underwent a maximal ECG stress test followed by a myocardial scintigraphy. The patients with an abnormal ECG stress test or abnormal imaging underwent a coronary angiography. Cardiac events were assessed in 250 (95.4%) patients followed for 37.8 months (3-101). RESULTS: The ECG stress test was abnormal in 54 patients. Among them, 18 had coronary stenoses and seven had a cardiac event. Despite a normal ECG stress test, the myocardial scintigraphy was abnormal in 42 additional patients, including 16 patients with coronary stenoses. Four of these 42 patients experienced a cardiac event. Follow-up showed a poor prognosis in subjects who were abnormal on the two tests. Univariate predictors of the 15 cardiac events were the ECG stress test [odds ratio (OR) 3.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 11.4, P = 0.008], myocardial scintigraphy (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.3, 11.0, P = 0.009), coronary stenoses (OR 26.6, 95% CI 7.6, 90.7, P < 0.001), and peripheral or carotid occlusive arterial disease (OR 9.5, 95% CI 2.1, 42.5, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the asymptomatic patients with diabetes, combining a myocardial scintigraphy with a maximal ECG stress test is effective in detecting more patients with coronary stenoses and predicting cardiovascular events. However, the ECG stress test has a good negative predictive value for cardiac events (97%), is cheaper, and should therefore be proposed first.
AIMS: To determine whether performing a myocardial scintigraphy immediately after a maximal electrocardiogram (ECG) stress test is effective in detecting silent coronary stenoses and predicting cardiovascular events. METHODS: Asymptomatic patients (n = 262) aged 57.6 +/- 8.8 years, with diabetes for 12.0 years (5-39) [median (range)] and no history of a cardiac event, underwent a maximal ECG stress test followed by a myocardial scintigraphy. The patients with an abnormal ECG stress test or abnormal imaging underwent a coronary angiography. Cardiac events were assessed in 250 (95.4%) patients followed for 37.8 months (3-101). RESULTS: The ECG stress test was abnormal in 54 patients. Among them, 18 had coronary stenoses and seven had a cardiac event. Despite a normal ECG stress test, the myocardial scintigraphy was abnormal in 42 additional patients, including 16 patients with coronary stenoses. Four of these 42 patients experienced a cardiac event. Follow-up showed a poor prognosis in subjects who were abnormal on the two tests. Univariate predictors of the 15 cardiac events were the ECG stress test [odds ratio (OR) 3.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 11.4, P = 0.008], myocardial scintigraphy (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.3, 11.0, P = 0.009), coronary stenoses (OR 26.6, 95% CI 7.6, 90.7, P < 0.001), and peripheral or carotid occlusive arterial disease (OR 9.5, 95% CI 2.1, 42.5, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the asymptomatic patients with diabetes, combining a myocardial scintigraphy with a maximal ECG stress test is effective in detecting more patients with coronary stenoses and predicting cardiovascular events. However, the ECG stress test has a good negative predictive value for cardiac events (97%), is cheaper, and should therefore be proposed first.
Authors: M K Poulsen; J E Henriksen; W Vach; J Dahl; J E Møller; A Johansen; O Gerke; T Haghfelt; P F Høilund-Carlsen; H Beck-Nielsen Journal: Diabetologia Date: 2010-01-14 Impact factor: 10.122
Authors: Marco Matteo Ciccone; Artor Niccoli-Asabella; Pietro Scicchitano; Michele Gesualdo; Antonio Notaristefano; Domenico Chieppa; Santa Carbonara; Gabriella Ricci; Marco Sassara; Corinna Altini; Giovanni Quistelli; Mario Erminio Lepera; Stefano Favale; Giuseppe Rubini Journal: Vasc Health Risk Manag Date: 2011-03-04
Authors: R Djaberi; E D Beishuizen; A M Pereira; T J Rabelink; J W Smit; J T Tamsma; M V Huisman; J W Jukema Journal: Diabetologia Date: 2008-07-08 Impact factor: 10.122