Role of treadmill stress testing in patients with coronary risk factors

Background: Stress testing is a simple, reliable and excellent non-invasive method for diagnosing coronary artery disease in asymptomatic patient and predicting future coronary events, particularly in patient with coronary risk factors. A risk factor is a feature of individual or population that is present early in life and is associated with increased risk of developing disease in future. Risk factor of interest for coronary artery disease may be hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hyperlipidaemia, obesity and physical inactivity. Methods: A clinical survey of 50 cases of patient with coronary risk factor was carried out at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad. These patients were subjected to tread mill stress testing after proper preparation. Results: In the present study modifiable risk factors like hypertension have 81% positive test; diabetics with hypertension have 91% positive test; smokers have 80% positive test; obese patients have 67% positive test and those with physical inactivity have 78.12% positive test. Conclusions: Most patients with modifiable risk factors are unaware of their condition and Coronary Artery Disease can be reduced efficiently if these patients are made aware of the risk and proper action is taken to control the risk factors.