Predicting coronary artery disease with treadmill stress testing: changes in R-wave amplitude compared with ST segment depression.

Coronary angiograms and treadmill stress tests were reviewed independently in 108 nonconsecutively selected cases. There were 16 patients (15%) with infarcts on ECG. Changes in R-wave amplitude and ST segments during exercise were evaluated to determine the sensitivity and specificity of each as a predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). ST segment changes had a sensitivity of 49%, and a specificity of 74%. The sensitivity increased to 55% when infarcts were excluded. R-wave amplitude changes had a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 84%. The sensitivity increased to 78% when infarcts were excluded. An index formed by the sum of the change in R-wave amplitude and the magnitude of ST segment change yielded a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 78%. The sensitivity increased to 84% when infarcts were excluded. There was no statistical difference between specificities for each criteria. Of those patients with an R-wave amplitude decrease, 69% had no coronary artery atherosclerosis, while 31% had significant lesions. Of those patients with no change or an increase in R-wave amplitude, 83% had coronary artery atherosclerosis, while 17% were normal. Of the 83% with coronary artery atherosclerosis, 81% had two and three vessel disease, while only 19% had single vessel disease. No change or an increase in R-wave amplitude during treadmill stress testing is a more reliable indicator of CAD in our laboratory than ST segment changes.