Heart Podcast Stress echo and long-term prognosis in patients with chest pain
Feb 11, 2025
Attila Kardos, a consultant cardiologist and clinical lead at Milton Keynes University Hospital, shares his expertise on stress echocardiography and its role in diagnosing chest pain. He discusses the historical significance of this diagnostic tool and its inclusion in cardiovascular guidelines. The conversation dives into a meta-analysis revealing the long-term prognostic value of stress echo and its effectiveness compared to other cardiac imaging techniques. Attila highlights key findings from studies involving over 16,500 patients, emphasizing the importance of interpreting test results for managing cardiovascular risks.
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Stress Echocardiography Explained
- Stress echocardiography, a 50-year-old non-invasive tool, helps assess chest pain and exercise-induced breathlessness.
- It involves stressing the heart and using echocardiography to evaluate blood supply, identifying blockages.
Study Objectives
- This review focuses on coronary artery disease (CAD) detection using stress echo.
- It aims to investigate the long-term prognostic potential of stress echo for suspected CAD.
Meta-Analysis Methodology
- The study used a meta-analysis of contemporary stress echo techniques, following PRISMA guidelines.
- Key inclusion criteria were myocardial ischemia investigation, longitudinal follow-up exceeding 12 months, and a minimum of 50 patients.