indications

Last reviewed 01/2018

Indications include:

• ischaemic heart disease (see notes):
• diagnosis
• risk stratification
• symptom and disability assessment
• regular follow-up for patients with known coronary artery disease
• specific screening in certain professions, e.g. pilots, firemen
• coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting
• reassessment if recurring symptoms
• routine pre- and post-intervention evaluation
• heart failure
• diagnosis of cause (contraindicated if aortic stenosis, acute pulmonary oedema, or coincident left main coronary artery stenosis)
• arrhythmias
• diagnostic procedure if presentation with exercise -related palpitations, dizziness, syncope
• selection of pacemaker in chronic atrioventricular block

Notes:

• NICE suggest that an exercise ECG should only be used as a diagnostic test in patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) with new onset possible cardiac chest pain:

  • do not use exercise ECG to diagnose or exclude stable angina for people without known CAD (1)

Reference:

• 1) NICE (March 2010). Chest pain of recent onset.