Exercise stress testing in the 21st century
Hélder Dores1, Miguel Mendes2, Paulo Dinis3
1NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; CHRC, Comprehensive Health Research Center, Associate Laboratory REAL (LA-REAL), Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Cardiology, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal.
Insights
Exercise testing with electrocardiographic monitoring (ET) remains valuable for cardiovascular disease (CVD) assessment, despite evolving diagnostic methods. This review explores its core parameters and contemporary applications in cardiovascular care.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Exercise testing with electrocardiographic monitoring (ET) was historically central to cardiovascular disease (CVD) evaluation.
- The diagnostic landscape for CVD has significantly evolved, with new modalities often replacing traditional indications like ischemic heart disease diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the role and value of exercise testing in modern cardiovascular medicine.
- To provide an overview of core exercise testing parameters and discuss key contemporary applications.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and clinical guidelines on exercise testing.
- Appraisal of the utility of ET across the cardiovascular continuum.
Main Results:
- Exercise testing continues to offer valuable insights despite shifts in diagnostic paradigms.
- Key parameters and specific clinical scenarios where ET remains relevant are identified.
Conclusions:
- Exercise testing retains a significant role in contemporary cardiovascular assessment.
- Understanding its core parameters and applications is crucial for clinicians managing cardiovascular patients.
Abstract:
Until recent decades, exercise testing with electrocardiographic monitoring (ET) was a fundamental test to evaluate individuals with suspected or known cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since its inception, the landscape of CVD has profoundly changed; classical indications such as the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease have been progressively superseded by other modalities. ET can still, however, provide valuable data across the cardiovascular continuum. In this focused two-part article, we appraise the role of ET in contemporary settings: part I provides an overview of core parameters, while part II addresses select main areas of interest.
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