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Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Published on: August 9, 2024
[More coronary computed tomography angiographies and less exercise electrocardiograms in patients under investigation
Henrik Löfmark1, Helge Brandberg2, Ellen Ostenfeld3
1doktorand, överläkare, hjärtkliniken, Danderyds sjukhus; Karolinska institutet, Stockholm.
Insights
Diagnosing chronic coronary syndrome involves assessing risk factors and medical history. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is recommended for low-intermediate likelihood, while functional tests are for intermediate-high likelihood, but CCTA availability is limited in Sweden.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Medical Diagnostics
Context:
- Chronic coronary syndrome diagnosis relies on clinical assessment and risk factors.
- Confirmation requires anatomical or functional testing, with test selection based on clinical likelihood, patient factors, and resource availability.
- Current diagnostic strategies include coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and functional non-invasive tests like stress echocardiography.
Purpose:
- To outline diagnostic recommendations for chronic coronary syndrome.
- To guide the selection of appropriate non-invasive diagnostic tests based on pre-test probability and patient characteristics.
- To highlight the current limitations in the availability of CCTA in Sweden.
Summary:
- Chronic coronary syndrome diagnosis is initiated via medical history and risk factor evaluation.
- Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is advised for low-to-intermediate likelihood cases, whereas functional tests are preferred for intermediate-to-high likelihood.
- Exercise electrocardiogram is a low-sensitivity option, reserved for situations where other imaging modalities are inaccessible.
Impact:
- Informs clinical decision-making for chronic coronary syndrome diagnosis.
- Highlights the need to improve access to advanced diagnostic tools like CCTA.
- Addresses disparities in diagnostic test availability within Sweden.
Abstract:
Chronic coronary syndrome is a clinical diagnosis based on medical history and risk factors. To confirm diagnosis, an anatomical or functional assessment is recommended. Selection of diagnostic test is guided by clinical likelihood, patient characteristics, local expertise and availability. If the likelihood is low to intermediate, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is recommended; if intermediate to high, a functional non-invasive test, such as stress echocardiography, is recommended. As compared with other non-invasive diagnostic tests, exercise electrocardiogram has the lowest sensitivity and is only recommended when other imaging diagnostic tests are unavailable. The availability of CCTA is unequal and inadequate in most parts of Sweden. Efforts to increase the availability are called for.
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