[Adapted ergometry with Naughton protocol for octogenarian patients]

Chest pain is a common symptom in elderly patients. Stress testing remains one of the most widely used diagnostic tests, as it provides valuable diagnostic and prognostic information. Performing an ergometry test can be challenging in elderly patients due to the greater difficulty in performing physical exercise because of age-related problems such as sarcopenia, muscle weakness, or other pathologies that limit the level of effort achieved. An adapted protocol such as Naughton's can be very useful in this patient profile. We set out to study the applicability in clinical practice of the Naughton protocol exercise test in octogenarian patients.

Patients aged 80 years or older who underwent exercise testing using the Naughton protocol were included consecutively. Clinical data were collected, including comorbidities associated with the ageing process such as hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and cognitive impairment. The test results, the level of effort achieved, and whether a satisfactory workload was achieved were recorded. The result (positive or negative for myocardial ischaemia) and whether there had been any complications were also recorded.

In the vast majority of patients (88%), maximum HR was achieved, allowing for a conclusive test for screening for ischaemia. None of the patients evaluated suffered any complications as a result of the test.

It is feasible to perform a stress test in these patients when using a protocol adapted to their characteristics, such as the Naughton protocol. It is a safe test that allows a satisfactory stress load to be achieved and is useful for screening for myocardial ischaemia.