Value of Exercise Tolerance Testing in Evaluation of Diabetic Patients Presented With Atypical Chest Discomfort

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease is the single most important cause of mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients. Electrocardiographic stress test is a non-invasive modality to screen significant coronary involvement in minimally symptomatic diabetics. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of this test in comparison with coronary angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 130 diabetic patients with atypical chest discomfort were studied and tested using Exercise Tolerance Test (ETT) among which 100 cases showed positive results that further were studied invasively by selective coronary angiography. RESULTS: The positive predictive value of ETT for diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)among diabetic patients presented with atypical chest discomfort was 77%. CONCLUSION: We conclude that electrocardiographic stress test is a valuable inexpensive non-invasive screening test in diabetic patients with atypical chest discomfort.