Exercise test interpretation.

The interpretation of an exercise test should encompass both subjective and objective aspects derived from testing. The patient's appearance, symptoms, and physical examination form an important part of the exercise test as do the hemodynamic responses of blood pressure and heart rate. In addition, the assessment of exercise capacity has been correlated to diagnosis and prognosis of patients with heart disease. Moreover, exercise-induced electrocardiographic changes provide the clinician with markers of cardiac pathology, which together with hemodynamic and clinical responses complete the exercise interpretation.