Diagnostic value of history and maximal exercise electrocardiography in men and women suspected of coronary heart disease.

Coronary arteriographic data have been compared in 278 patients (231 males and 47 females) with the ECG response to a maximal exercise test and with the history (myocardial infarction - MI, typical or atypical angina pectoris -AP). The sensitivity and specificity of exercise ECG were similar in males and females. False negative ECG responses were frequent in males (40%) and false positive ECG responses were frequent in females (38%). This difference between sexes was essentially due in our patients to the higher prevalence of CHD in males (80%) than in females (43%).