The incidence of "silent" coronary heart disease

In a group of clinically normal male executives subjected to maximal treadmill stress testing, the occurrence of ischemic st segment responses was in all cases unaccompanied by pain, while in a clinically suspect group a large proportion of those having ischemic st segment responses did not have chest pain. While a significant number of persons have no subjective sensation of pain while having ischemic st segment changes on the electrocardiograph during or after maximal treadmill exercise, occasionally atypical pain may occur during or following exercise. Maximal treadmill stress testing is useful in discovering "silent" coronary artery disease.