[Life-threatening complications in 1741106 cases of ergometry]

No life-threatening complications occurred in exercise-testing in 384 938 athletes. Among 1 356 168 patients the most frequent complication was ventricular fibrillation (1:15 000). The step test was associated with a two-fold diminution of fibrillations when compared to bicycle ergometry in the supine position and with a four-fold decrease when compared to conventional bicycle ergometry. Pulmonary oedema, a typical complication, occurred once in 29 000 bicycle ergometries in supine position. Infarctions were seen 3.5 times more frequently between 1950 and 1977 (1:26 000) than in the following four years (1:92 000). Fatal cardiac infarction occurred in 1:42 000 before 1978 and in 1:644 000 thereafter. It was the sole cause of death. Present data show a potentially life-threatening risk of 1:9000 ergometries in patients. Considering the favourable trend at present, a risk of 1:12 000 can be expected in conditions of an experienced investigator. Defibrillation facilities ready for use must be available in any ergometry.