Incidence and prognostic implications of severe ventricular arrhythmias during maximal exercise testing.

Among 7,500 consecutive maximal exercise tests (MET), we have observed 6 cases of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and 40 cases of ventricular tachycardia (VT); 13 patients had a sustained VT and 27 patients had a single short run of VT. No patient died immediately but 11 patients died during the follow-up. The prognosis was determined by the underlying disease (most often coronary artery disease) and the type of arrhythmia. The 5-year survival rate was 84% in patients with a short run of VT and only 43% in patients with VF or sustained VT.