Routine functional testing after percutaneous coronary intervention: results of the aggressive diagnosis of...

It is unclear whether routine or selective functional testing is optimal following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in high-risk patients.

The aim of this trial was to compare exercise endurance, functional status, and quality of life (QOL) among high-risk patients randomized to either routine or selective functional testing following PCI.

We randomized 84 patients to either routine or selective functional testing. Patients had one or more of the following: multivessel PCI, diabetes mellitus, left ventricular ejection fraction < 35%, and/or PCI of the proximal left anterior descending artery. Patients in the routine arm (n = 41) underwent maximum endurance exercise treadmill testing (ETT) with nuclear perfusion imaging at 1.5 and 6 months. Patients in the selective arm (n = 43) only underwent functional testing for a clinical indication. All patients underwent a maximum endurance ETT at 9 months. Exercise endurance, functional status, and QOL were assessed at 9 months.

Most patients were middle-aged men (58 +/- 10 years old; 87% male) who underwent PCI with stenting (94%). Among routine functional testing patients, 27.0% and 41.9% had a positive functional test at 1.5 and 6 months, respectively. Exercise endurance was improved in the routine vs. selective arm at 9 months (metabolic equivalents: 10.3 +/- 2.6 vs. 8.6 +/- 3.0, P = 0.013). There was no difference in improvement from baseline for the Duke Activity Status Index, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, or the SF-36. Nine-month cumulative incidences of cardiac procedures and clinical events were not significantly different.

Routine functional testing following PCI in high-risk patients may lead to improved exercise endurance but not improved QOL.