[Is the exercise test performed after myocardial infarct really useful in improving prognosis? Arguments contra]

Exercise testing is considered to play a major role in risk stratification after myocardial infarction. With the aim of improving prognosis, an exercise test should be able to identify patients at higher risk of coronary events. In this sense, its major limitation is a low positive predictive value, especially in patients who have been treated with thrombolytic agents. This fact limits its clinical value in the decision making process in individual patients. Finally, the decision to revascularize with angioplasty or surgery when only a positive exercise test result is taken into account, has not been proven to prolong life in these patients. All these considerations should make us think about some clinical attitudes that are taken for granted.