Angiographic Correlates of the Treadmill Scores in Non-High-Risk Patients with Unstable Angina

BACKGROUND: There has been no clear consensus regarding the optimum definition of a high-risk exercise ECG test. The aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of several treadmill scores [American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) High-Risk Criteria for exercise testing, Duke Treadmill Score, Veterans Affairs and West Virginia Prognostic Score, ST/Heart Rate Index] with the ST-segment depression analysis in the detection of significant and severe coronary disease as determined by coronary angiography. METHODS: The study included a cohort of 248 consecutive patients admitted to hospital for unstable angina. RESULTS: The sensitivities of the ACC/AHA High-Risk Criteria and the ST depression > or =1 mm were 89.02 and 76.83%, respectively, for the detection of significant coronary artery disease, and 96.15 and 86.54% for the detection of severe coronary artery disease. The specificities of the Duke Treadmill Score and the ST depression > or=1 mm were 96.43 and 73.81%, respectively, for the detection of significant coronary artery disease, and 81.63 and 47.45% for the detection of severe coronary artery disease. CONCLUSIONS: The ACC/AHA High-Risk Criteria and Duke Treadmill Score provided relevant diagnostic information not available from the ST segment analysis alone.