[Importance of the electrocardiogram in the assessment of range of cardiac efficiency (author's transl)].

The "circulatory profile", i.e. the correlation of optimal ergometric output in watts, cardiac volume, hemodynamic regulatory test, blood gas analyses, ergospirography and ergoelectrocardiography is available for the optimal assessment of the range of cardiac efficiency. For routine examinations, the recording and evaluation of watts, blood pressure and pulse, and the ECG performance index, i.e. the electrocardiogram before, during and after exercise is usually sufficient. To determine the ECG performance index, the ECG at rest, during exercise and recovery must be assessed. The reliability of the ECG performance index was checked by a comparison with the "circulatory profile" in a total of 300 patients. From this it was found that the specificity is too small, i.e. by taking the ECG alone as a basis, the range of cardiac efficiency is frequently estimated too low.