Background: Stress echocardiography (SE) is becoming an increasingly frequently performed diagnostic examination in Poland. After the published retrospective PolSTRESS Registry, this prospective study is the first one available so far.
Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze SE tests, taking into account the clinical characteristics of the patients, indications, applied protocols, and diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.
Material and methods: Reference cardiological centers in Poland were asked for a 1-month prospective analysis of the data obtained. The study included 189 SE examinations. To evaluate coronary artery disease (CAD) (178 tests), all 17 centers performed dobutamine SE (DSE) (100%), 3 centers (17%) performed pacing, while cycle ergometer and treadmill SE were performed by 1 (5%) and 2 (11%) centers, respectively. In patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) (11 tests), 3 centers (16%) performed SE to evaluate low-flow/low-gradient aortic stenosis (AS), 4 (22%) in asymptomatic AS and 1 (5%) to evaluate mitral regurgitation.
Results: For CAD assessment, a positive result was found in 37 (20%) patients, negative in 109 (61%) and nondiagnostic in 32 (19%). In the CAD group, coronarography was performed in 41 (23%) people. The analysis of the significance of the SE results for decision-making on interventional measures revealed that 30 patients (from the total study population of 189) were referred for the intervention.
Conclusions: The most commonly used SE is the DSE. Negative test results allowed in almost half of the patients to resign from invasive coronarography. Stress echocardiography should be more frequently used in patients with VHD in the qualification for invasive treatment.
Keywords: coronary artery disease; stress echocardiography; valvular heart disease.