A comparative evaluation of loading tests for the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease at the prehospital stage

Bicycle ergometry, the treadmill test, transesophageal pacing of the left atrium and 24-h monitoring of the ECG were performed on an outpatient basis in 82 persons (all men) with angina pectoris of effort and stenosing atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries verified with the aid of selective coronarography and in 17 men with intact coronary arteries. Transesophageal pacing and the treadmill test exhibited the highest sensitivity (94 and 89%, respectively) in the diagnosis of the latent forms of coronary failure. The sensitivity of bicycle ergometry (77%) was significantly lower which was caused by a considerable number (21%) of tests completed before the appearance of diagnostic criteria. Meanwhile the results of 24-h monitoring of the ECG (65% sensitivity) depended on the degree of the patients' physical activity and way of life. All the four methods did not significantly differ in the specificity. Proceeding from the data obtained it is recommended that the treadmill test and transesophageal pacing of the heart may be widely used on an outpatient basis to diagnose coronary disease.