COMPARISON OF EXERCISE TEST RESULTS AND EXERCISE MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION IMAGING IN PATIENTS REFERRED TO IMAM HOSSEIN HOSPITAL IN SHAHROOD, IRAN

Early diagnosis of coronary arterial disease (CAD) plays an important part in reducing the complications, non-invasive tests, exercise test and myocardial perfusion imaging in particular. This study is intended to compare the results of these two procedures as well as to evaluate the distribution of coronary risk factors in various patients groups. Methods and Material: MPI and exercise test were conducted for 167 patients who referred to the nuclear medicine clinic at Imam Hossein Hospital in Shahroud, Iran. Information on coronary risk factors were collected. The mean age for men and women were 49.8 and 49.1 years respectively MPI in 52.7% were noted. Hypertension was more frequent in female, while smoking was more frequent in males, with no otherwise remarkable difference for other coronary risk factors. Hypertension and familial history of IHD were higher in the abnormal MPI group. Than the normal group. Abnormal exercise test results were associated with abnormal MPI in 74.5%. However, normal exercise test results were accompanied with abnormal MPI in 43.1 %. The overall sensitivity and specificity of exercise test were 43% and 82.7% respectively. Sensitivity was higher in men while specificity was slightly higher in females.