DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/ZC0A-9S31

Defense Date

2010

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Physiology

First Advisor

Ross Arena

Abstract

Heart disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States with coronary artery disease (CAD) representing more than half of all cardiovascular events. Stable patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of CAD are likely to undergo either an exercise ECG and/or imaging study as a first line diagnostic assessment. A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) is an ECG stress test plus ventilatory gas analysis. Recently CPX has been used to detect exercise-induced myocardial ischemia suggestive of underlying CAD. Currently there are a number of diagnostic tests available for the identification of CAD with the most widely used being exercise ECG, myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and cardiac catheterization. Exercise ECG, although inexpensive, has a number of well-recognized limitations, including low sensitivity resulting in false positive results. MPI and catheterization are more accurate but also more invasive and expensive. It appears that CPX may improve the diagnostic accuracy of exercise ECG in a cost effective manner.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

August 2010

Included in

Physiology Commons

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