PubMed1991
The diagnostic potentialities of bicycle ergometry (BEM) and treadmill test were comparatively analysed in 57 males aged 37-64 years who were examined to detect coronary heart disease. In 34 cases, the results of BEM and treadmill test were consistent, of them 13 were positive, 15, negative, 3 intermediate, and 3 inadequate. With positive results, the treadmill test was more reliable than BEM in revealing the criteria for ischemia from statistically significantly more pronounced ST-segment depression at a lower threshold heart rate. Inconsistency of the BEM and treadmill test results was found in 23 cases. In 14 of 18 patients who had indefinite BEM results, the treadmill test allowed one to make a definite conclusive diagnosis, showing 6 positive and 8 negative results. This is accounted for by lower cases when the treadmill test was discontinued due to a hypertensive reaction of blood pressure or fatigue. The study indicated that the treadmill test was more sensitive and better tolerated than BEM.