[Exercise tests--evaluation of physical and coronary performance in patients after coronary angioplasty]

Exercise tests to assess both physical and coronary performance were carried out in 82 male patients aged between 31 and 62 years (mean 45.6 years) who underwent PTCA for unstable coronary disease (without a history of myocardial infarction). All patients were divided into two age groups: 31-45 years (group A), and 46-62 years (group B). Exercise test was carried out in all patients after 2-4 days, 6 and 12 months following PTCA. Ischemia was diagnosed in 15.2% of patients of group A during the first test, in 6.5% of patients during the second test, and in 4.3% of patients during the third test, indicating a decrease in ischemia. Signs of ischemia were noted in 5.6% of patients of group B in the first test increasing to 11.1% of patients during the second and third exercise testing. Ischemia was found in 6 out of 82 patients (7.3%) after one year following PTCA. Physical performance increased by 28% in patients of group A (p .01) after 6 months, and by 24.4% in patients of group B (p .01). Further increase in physical performance was noted after 12 months, i.e. by 42.1% (p .01) in group A, and by 53.3% (p .01) in group B. A significantly higher increase was noted in patients of group A (p .01) than that in group B after 6 months following PTCA. Therefore, PTCA proved beneficial in both age groups. However, this effect was first noted in younger patients.