Your browser doesn't support JavaScript. Please upgrade to a modern browser or enable JavaScript in your existing browser.
Skip Navigation U.S. Department of Health and Human Services www.hhs.gov
Agency for Healthcare Research Quality www.ahrq.gov
www.ahrq.gov

Table 3. Association between Abnormal ST-Segment Response to Exercise and Coronary Heart Disease Events in Asymptomatic Personsa

Author, Year (Reference) Sample Exclusion Criteria Mean Years of Followup Test Abnormal Test Result Cumulative Event Rate Adjusted Relative Risk (95% CI) for CHD Events with Abnormal ST-Segment Response Sensitivity for CHD Events Positive Predictive Value of Abnormal ST Response Variables for Which Relative Risk Was Adjusted
Definition Prevalence
Giagnoni et al., 198336

514 factory workers in Italy

Age range: 18-65 y

73% men

Positive history and physical exam for CVD, resting blood pressure ≥160/95 mm Hg, abnormal resting electocard-iogram 6 y Submaximal supine cycle ergometry ≥1 mm of horizontal/downsloping ST-segment depression during or after exercise NR Normal exercise test 3.4%
Abnormal exercise test result 15.6%b
5.5
(2.8-11.2)
62 15 Age, systolic blood pressure, smoking, coronary risk index

MRFIT Trial Research Group, 19858

Rautaharju et al., 198650

6,205 men in the upper 10% to 15% Framingham risk score distribution

Age range: 35-57

100% men

Clinical heart disease, life-limiting conditions, diastolic blood pressure ≥115 mm Hg, cholesterol ≥350 mg/dL 7 y Submaximal Computer code ST- segment depression 16 muV-s or more in leads CS5, aVL, aVF, V5 during or after exercise (in electrocard-iogram with less than 6 muV-s depression at rest) 12.2%

Normal exercise test result 2/1,000 person yearsb

Abnormal exercise test result 7.6/1,000 person yearsb

3.5
(P <0.05)b
 

1.61
(P <0.01)c

NR 36 Age, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, number of cigarettes smoked daily

Gordon et al., 198641

Ekelund et al., 198926

3,640 white men in Lipid Research Clinics Prevalence Survey in United States and Canada

Mean age: 47

Age range: 35-59 y

100% men

Evidence of CHD by history, resting electrocardiogram, and physician exam. Secondary hyperlipidem-ia, BMI >32.1 kg/m2, blood pressure ≥165/105 mm Hg with antihypertensive or cardiovascular medication; diabetes mellitus. 8.1 y Submaximal modified Bruce ≥1 mm of ST-segment depression or elevation or computer- ST integral decreased or increased ≥10 muV-s from resting value 8.3%

Placebo group
Normal exerciser test result 13/1,000 person yearsb

Abnormal exercise test result 1.9/1,000 person yearsb

Placebo group
5.7
(2.7-12.2)b
 

3.3
(1.8-5.9)c

30 7.1 Age, LDL cholesterol level, HDL cholesterol level, systolic blood pressure, smoking, family history

Cholestyramine group

Normal exercise test result 7.2/1,000 person yearsb

Abnormal exercise test result 1.5/1,000 person yearsb

Cholestyramine group

4.9
(2.2-10.8)b

 

2.9
(1.6-5.2)c

Fleg et al., 199019

407 residents of Baltimore, Maryland (mainly white)

Mean age ±SD 60 ±11 y

Range: 40-90 y

71% men

NR 4.6 y Maximal treadmill with thallium modified Balke ≥1 mm of horizontal/ downsloping ST-segment during or after exercise

Abnormal electro-cardiogram only 16.0%

Abnormal thallium scan only 14%

Both tests abnormal 6.0%

Both test results normal, 7%

Abnormal electrocardiogram only, 12%

Abnormal thallium scan, only 3%

Both tests abnormal, 48%

1.0
 

2.4
(P <0.05)

 
1.4
(NS)

3.6
(1.6-8.1)

 

 

40

 

N/A

28

 

 

24

 

N/A

48

Age, sex, hypertension, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, BMI, smoking, exercise duration
Okin et al., 199140

3,168 participants in the Framingham Offspring Study

Mean age ±SD, 44 ±10 y Age range: 17-70 y

48% male

Medical contraindica-tions to exercise, history of myocardial infarction, CHF, valvular disease, syncope, conduction abnormalities, digoxin use, atrial fibrillation 4.3 y Standard Bruce ST segment corrected for heart rate index >1.6 muV per beat per min or abnormal rate recovery loop

416/3168
13%

(either test abnormal)

Both tests normal 1.6%

Either test abnormal 4.1%

Both tests abnormal 9.8%

1.0
 

1.6
(1.1-2.5)

2.7
(1.8-4.0)

 

23%

8%

 

4%

10%

Age, sex, smoking, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol level, fasting blood glucose, left ventricular hypertrophy on electrocardiography
Siscovick et al., 199112

3,617 white men in the Lipid Research Clinics Prevalence Survey

Mean age: NR
Age range: 35-59 y

100% male

Clinical evidence of CHD or CHF on history, various resting electrocard-iogram abnormalities 7.4 y Submaximal modified Bruce Visual code ≥1 mm ST-segment depression or elevation or computer code ≥10 muV 1/N s 6.6% Overall 2%d 2.6 (1.3 - 5.2)d 18% 5% Age, LDL cholesterol level, HDL cholesterol level, smoking, physical activity, workload achieved, family history of CHD, BMI, alcohol consumption
Blumenthal et al., 199632

264 healthy siblings of individuals with CAD before age 60 in Baltimore, Maryland

Mean age ±SD, 46 ± 8
Age range: 37-59 y

69% men

Known CAD, corti-costeriods, collagen vascular disease, decreased life expectancy, functional status limitations 6.2 y Modified Bruce and thallium scintigraphy ≥1 mm (≥2 mm for women) of horizontal or downsloping depression in 3 consecutive beats during exercise or first 3 min of recovery

Abnormal exercise electrocard-iogram 5.4%

Abnormal plus thallium scan 18.1%

Abnormal exercise electrocard-iogram and scan 4.6%

Normal 3% 1.0     Age, sex
Abnormal exercise electrocardiogram 7% 1.5
(0.2-12.5)
N/A N/A
Abnormal thallium scan 13% 3.6
(1.1-11.4)
63% 20%
Abnormal exercise electrocard-iogram and scan 50% 14.5
(4.2-50.2)
32% 50%
Okin et al., 199639

5,940 men in the usual care group of MRFIT

Mean age: NR
Age range: 35-57 y

100% men

No evidence of CHD by history, physical examination, or resting electrocard-iography 7 y Submaximal treadmill ST segment corrected for heart rate index >1.6 muV per beats per min 729/5,940
(12.3%)

Normal exercise test result 1.3%b

Abnormal exercise test result 5.4%b

3.6
(2.4-5.4)b

36% 5% Age. Diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol level, smoking
Katzel et al., 199929

170 healthy sedentary obese men living in the Baltimore-Washington, DC area (96% white)

Mean age: NR
Age range: 45-79 y

100% men

History or laboratory evidence of CAD, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia 7.3 y Maximal Bruce ≥1 mm of horizontal or downsloping ST-segment depression in 2 or more leads 37/170
(22%)
Overall 18% 4.23
(2.03-8.83)
55% 46% Age, BMI, maximal VO2, fasting glucose level
Gibbons et al., 200033

25,927 patients of a preventive medicine clinic in Texas (mainly white)

Mean age: 42.9
Age range 20-82 y

100% men

Evident CHD, severe aortic stenosis, acute systemic illness, uncontrolled atrial or ventricular arrhythmias, pericarditis, myocarditis, thrombophlebitis or exercise- limiting orthopedic problems 8.4 y Maximal treadmill modified Blake Chest pain and ≥1mm ST-segment depression or elevation, exercise induced-decrease ≥10 mm in systolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure >250 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure >120 mm Hg, ventricular tachycar-dia, left bundle-branch block, right bundle branch block, super-ventricular tachycardia No risk factors, 3.0%

No risk factors
Normal exercise test result 0.08/1000 person yearsb

Abnormal ETT 2.8/1000 person yearsb

21
(6.9-63.3)b

60 2.2 Age
>1 risk factor,
7.1%

>1 risk factor
Normal ETT 0.5/1000 person yearsb

Abnormal exercise test result 7.6/1000 person yearsb

9b 61 7.7  

Josephson et al., 199011

Rywik et al., 200221

1,083 participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Mean age ±SD, 52 ±18 y

57% men

History of angina or heart failure, Q wave on resting electrocardio-graphy, valvular disease, use of anti-arrhythmic drugs, inability to achieve 85% of maximal heart rate 7.9 Modified Balke Normal Men 4%
Women 3%
1.0e Men 74
Women 68
Men 16
Women 7
Age, cholesterol, sex, exercise duration
Minnesota Code 11.1e 20% Men 17%
Women 8%
2.7
(1.6-4.7)f
Minnesota Code 11.5e 5.5% Men 17%
Women 11%
2.7
(1.05-7.10)f
Minnesota Code 11.2e 7% Men 10%
Women 5%
OR 1.8f
(0.6-5.4)
Minnesota Code 11.4e 11.5% Men 17%
Women 3%
OR 1.3f
(0.6-2.9)
Jouven and Ducimetiere, 200045

6,101 Frenchmen in Paris Civil Service

Age range: 42-53 y

100% men

Known or suspected CVD, resting systolic blood pressure ±180 mm Hg, resting Electrocard-iographic abnormality 23 Bicycle ergometry J-point depression of at least 1 mm with a flat or downsloping ST segment during exercise or recovery 4.4%

Normal exercise test result, 6.4%

Abnormal exercise test result 16.7%b

2.6
(1.93-3.59)b
10 17-25 Age, BMI, heart rate at rest, smoking, physical activity, diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol level, premature ventricular complex
Laukkanen et al., 200120 1,769 participants, population in Kupio Ischemic Heart Disease Study base sample of Finnish men

Mean age ±SD,
52 ±5.2 y
100% men

Known CHD or symptoms suggestive of CHD 10 Maximal Bicycle ergometry >1 mm ST-segment depression during exercise 10.7%

Normal exercise test result 9.2%
2.4%b

Abnormal 15.3%
7.9%b

1.7
(1.1-2.6)
 

3.5
(1.9-6.5)b

16 15 Age, examination year, smoking, systolic blood pressure, alcohol consumption, BMI, max oxygen uptake, diabetes mellitus, LDL cholesterol level, HDL cholesterol level
Rutter et al., 200213

86 diabetic patients in the United Kingdom

Mean age ±SD,
62 ±7 y
Age range: 46-74 y

72% men

History of CAD 2.8 Treadmill >1 mm of horizontal or downsloping ST-segment depression for 3 consecutive beats 52% Both normal and abnormal exercise test results
17%
21
(2-204)
100% 20% Ankle brachial index, microalbuminuria, Framingham 10-y CHD risk >30%, fibrinogen level
Mora et al., 200342

2994 women enrolled in the Lipid Research Clinics Prevalence Study

Age range 30-80

0% men

Pregnancy or significant cardiovascu-lar disease 20.3 Maximal Bruce ≥1mm horizontal or downsloping ST-segment depression at 0.08 seconds after the J point during recovery or exercise 4.7%

Both normal and abnormal exercise tolerance test results

5%b
 

14%c

 

 
 

0.88
(0.48-1.61)b

0.69
(0.45-1.04)c

 

 

Age, smoking, diabetes, family history of premature heart disease, obesity, HDL cholesterol level, LDL cholesterol level, triglyceride level, hypertension

aEvents are CHD events unless otherwise indicated. BMI = body mass index; CAD = coronary heart disease; CVD = cardiovascular disease; HDL = high-density lipoprotein; LDL = low-density lipoprotein; MRFIT = Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial Research Group; NA = not applicable; NR = not reported.
bCHD death.
cAll-cause death.
dFor CHD events occurring during exercise.
eMinnesota code 11.1 = ≥1 mm J-point depression with flat or downsloping ST segment in most complexes in any lead except aVR; Minnesota code 11.2 = horizontal or downsloping ST-segment depression of 0.5-1.0 mm; Minnesota code 11.4 = J-point depression of ≥1 mm with upsloping ST; Minnesota code 11.5 = ST-segment depression at rest that worsens to 11.1 during exercise.
fValues are odds ratios (95% CI).

Return to Document

 

AHRQ Advancing Excellence in Health Care