BACKGROUND: There is conflicting data in contemporary literature concerning the best way to treat patients with stable coronary artery disease; specifically, whether medical treatment alone or invasive strategies combined with medical treatment are better. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with and without revascularization after stress echocardiography and to create formulas for detecting patients with a very high risk of cardiac death/major adverse cardiac event (MACE) in their present conditions.

METHODS: We assessed 323 patients (53.9 ± 8.4 years, 247 men), undergoing upright bicycle stress echocardiography in 2006 - 2007. During a median follow-up of 5.2 ± 0.2 years, 21 cardiovascular and 5 confirmed non-cardiac deaths occurred. Eighty-three patients underwent revascularization.

RESULTS: Stress echocardiography was normal in 32% and abnormal in 68%. All the patients with CAD were prescribed acetylsalicylic acid, statins, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors. Eighty-seven percents of the patients took medication regularly. The percentage taking medication didn't significantly differ in the subgroups. Two formulas were created for detecting a very high risk of cardiac death (25%) or MACE (68%) within 5 years. All the patients with abnormal stress tests were divided into two subgroups: 80 patients with revascularization and 138 subjects without revascularization. There was a significant difference in 5 year cardiac mortality if the patients had an index of wall motion abnormality (IWMA) after exercise greater than or equal to 1.3.

CONCLUSION: It is possible to identify during stress echocardiography subjects with a very high risk for cardiac death/MACE. Patients with IWMA ≥ 1.3 had improved outcomes following revascularization.