Exercise testing of chest pain patients in emergency department at prince hashem military hospital

Abstract EN

Objective: To describe patients with chest pain and their triage in the emergency department after using treadmill exercise testing when needed. Methods: This study was conducted during the period between 15th of August 1999 and 15th of July 2000 as indicated by clinical and electrocardiographical criteria in a large heterogeneous group, which excluded patients with proven coronary artery disease. Results: During the study period, a total of 450 patients with chest pain [(287(63.8%) males, 163 (36.2%) females)] presented to the emergency department underwent treadmill testing.

Fifty patients (11.1%) had positive results on exercise electrocardiography, 42 of the latter had further evaluation that revealed evidence of coronary artery disease in 31 (73.8%) patients. Three hundred sixty nine (82%) patients had negative exercise test results and 31(6.9)% had non-diagnostic tests.

No adverse events were recorded. A 30-day follow-up was achieved in 425 (94.4%) patients and revealed no mortality in any of the patients. Conclusion: The results in the study population support the safety and utility of exercise testing in low-risk chest pain patients who presented to the emergency department.