Exercise testing soon after myocardial infarction.

Forty-six men under age 70, without clinical congestive heart failure or unstable angina pectoris, performed treadmill tests 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 weeks after myocardial infarction. Patients were more frequently able to perform moderate exertion (2 mph, 14% grade) at 7 and 11 weeks than at 3 weeks following infarction. Ischemic ST-segment depression, usually unaccompained by angina pectoris, occurred in 45% of patients and was associated with a significantly increased incidence of subsequent coronary events. The presence of exercise-induced ventricular ectopic activity provided little independent prognostic information. No serious complications occurred in 210 tests. Exercise testing soon after myocardial infarction provides objective information concerning the capacity to resume physical activity, including return to work. Two tests, at 3-5 weeks and at 7-11 weeks, appear to provide most of the information contined in five tests performed during this time.