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Patricia A Pellikka

Publications and source records attributed to Patricia A Pellikka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Outcomes after normal dobutamine stress echocardiography and predictors of adverse events: long-term follow-up of 3014 patients.

AIMS: Normal exercise echocardiography predicts a good prognosis. Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is generally reserved for patients with comorbidities which preclude exercise testing. We evaluated predictors of adverse events after normal DSE. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 3014 patients (1200 males, 68+/-12 years) with normal DSE, defined as the absence of wall motion abnormality at rest or with stress. During median follow-up of 6.3 years, all-cause mortality and cardiac events, defined as myocardial infarction and coronary revascularization, occurred in 920 (31%) and 231 (7.7%) patients, respectively. Survival and cardiac event-free probabilities were 95 and 98% at 1 year, 78 and 93% at 5 years, and 56 and 89% at 10 years, respectively. Age, diabetes mellitus, and failure to achieve 85% age-predicted maximal heart rate were independent predictors of mortality and cardiac events. Patients with all three of these characteristics had a 13% probability of cardiac events within the first year and higher risk throughout follow-up. CONCLUSION: Prognosis after normal DSE is not necessarily benign, but depends on patient and stress test characteristics. Careful evaluation, using clinical and stress data, is required to identify patients with normal DSE who are at increased risk of adverse outcomes during long-term follow-up.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Carcinoid heart disease in patients without hepatic metastases.

Most carcinoid tumors originate in the gut. Carcinoid heart disease typically occurs when tumor progression results in the formation of hepatic metastases, which allow vasoactive substances to reach the heart without being metabolized in the liver. Except for patients with primary ovarian carcinoid tumors, the occurrence of carcinoid heart disease without hepatic metastases has been reported only anecdotally. From a retrospective analysis of 265 patients, 4 patients were identified who developed carcinoid heart disease in the absence of liver metastases or primary tumors located in the ovaries. All 4 patients had metastases to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes and had carcinoid syndrome. The reasons for referral to cardiac evaluation by transthoracic echocardiography were findings on auscultation in 3 patients and exertional dyspnea in 1 patient. In conclusion, cardiac symptoms or findings on auscultation should prompt further evaluation by transthoracic echocardiography in these patients, although the classic prerequisites for development of carcinoid heart disease are lacking.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Relationship between coronary artery calcification detected by electron-beam computed tomography and abnormal stress echocardiography: association and prognostic implications.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the results and prognostic value of electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) and exercise echocardiography. BACKGROUND: Although patients with elevated coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) might be referred for exercise echocardiography, the association of EBCT CACS with wall motion score index (WMSI) is not known. METHODS: Patients without known coronary artery disease who underwent both clinically indicated EBCT and exercise echocardiography within a 3-month period were identified. Exercise WMSI was based on a 16-segment model (normal = 1; abnormal >1). The EBCT CACS was derived with the Agatston scoring system. Follow-up was obtained for the combined end point of death and myocardial infarction. RESULTS: The study population included 556 patients (age 54 +/- 10 years; 65% male). Correlation between EBCT CACS and exercise WMSI was limited (r = 0.17, p < 0.0001) but statistically significant. The proportion of patients with abnormal exercise WMSI increased with increasing CACS severity (chi-square = 19.1, p < 0.001). However, even in those with CACS >400, 66% had normal exercise WMSI. Age, CACS, and chest pain were independently associated with abnormal exercise WMSI. Events occurred in 12 (2%) patients. Wall motion score index (risk ratio [RR] 3.7, p = 0.023) and age (RR 1.9, p = 0.019) were associated with events. CONCLUSIONS: Electron-beam computed tomography CACS was predictive of abnormal exercise WMSI, but the majority of patients with elevated CACS had normal WMSI. Wall motion score index and age were the best predictors of events. Prospective studies are indicated to establish the relative roles of these tests in risk stratification.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Determination of interobserver variability for identifying inducible left ventricular wall motion abnormalities during dobutamine stress magnetic resonance imaging.

AIMS: To determine the interobserver variability for identifying inducible left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities during high-dose dobutamine/atropine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DSMR). METHODS AND RESULTS: Four readers from various institutions were supplied with the image data from 150 consecutive DSMR examinations and asked to grade wall motion and image quality throughout graded doses of dobutamine infusion administered to achieve 85% of the maximum age-predicted heart rate. Inducible ischaemia was identified if more than one segment demonstrated a new or worsening LV wall motion abnormality, and significant stenosis was defined as > or =50% luminal diameter reduction by quantitative contrast coronary angiography. Seventy-seven patients (51%) had luminal narrowings > or =50%. Diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy) of all readers was 78.2, 87.0 and 82.5%. Disagreement between two readers occurred in every seventh examination. Agreement on the presence or absence of inducible wall motion abnormalities was moderate (mean kappa value 0.59, range 0.52-0.76). Diagnostic performance and disagreement were independent of the presence of luminal narrowings > or =50% or the number of diseased coronary vessels. Image quality was regarded excellent in 89.3% of standard views. CONCLUSION: In the setting of multiple observers from different institutions performing a diagnostic reading of DSMR examinations carried out at a single centre, the interobserver variability was low for identifying inducible LV wall motion abnormalities indicative of coronary arterial luminal narrowings > or =50%.

Cardiotonic Agents↗
PubMed2006

Safety of exercise stress testing in patients with abnormal concentrations of serum potassium.

The objective of this study was to determine the safety of performing exercise stress testing in patients with abnormal serum potassium concentrations. Data were reviewed from 9,084 patients (mean age 63 +/- 12 years) referred for exercise echocardiography who had serum potassium measured <48 hours before the test were reviewed, and the occurrence of arrhythmias during stress testing was determined. Of 10,272 studies, 9,067 (88%) were in patients with normokalemia and 1,205 (12%) were in patients with abnormal serum potassium concentrations: 309 (26%) with hypokalemia (mean 3.4 +/- 0.16 mmol/L) and 896 (74%) with hyperkalemia (mean 5.1 +/- 0.19 mmol/L). Ventricular and supraventricular ectopy were common during exercise. Only 1 patient (potassium 4.9 mmol/L) had sustained ventricular tachycardia; all other episodes were nonsustained. Although ventricular and supraventricular ectopy are common during exercise testing, life-threatening arrhythmias are not. Exercise testing is generally safe despite mild to moderate hypokalemia or hyperkalemia.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with diabetes mellitus: enhanced prognostic prediction using a simple risk score.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the prognostic value of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for predicting long-term outcomes in a large cohort with diabetes mellitus and to develop a simple risk score using clinical and echocardiographic data. BACKGROUND: Neither risk scores nor long-term prognostic value of DSE has been described in a large diabetic population. METHODS: We studied 2,349 patients with diabetes mellitus (1,338 men, 67 +/- 11 years of age) during a follow-up of 5.4 +/- 2.2 years. RESULTS: Mortality and morbidity (myocardial infarction and late coronary revascularization) occurred in 1,044 (44%) and 309 (13%) patients, respectively. Addition of stress echocardiographic variables to the clinical and rest echocardiographic model provided incremental prognostic information for predicting mortality (chi-square = 243 to 270, p < 0.0001) and morbidity (chi-square = 38 to 78, p < 0.0001). For each end point, a simple risk score was derived according to the estimated values of beta coefficients of multivariate predictors (insulin therapy, smoking, failure to achieve target heart rate, percentage of ischemic segments, and impaired left ventricular systolic function) and resulted in an assessment of risk among all age groups. The C-statistic values were 0.60 to 0.64, indicating modest discrimination. The estimated five-year event-free survivals of patients in three risk categories were 94%, 86%, and 80% for morbidity (p < 0.00001) and 69%, 60%, and 47% for mortality (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with diabetes mellitus, a simple and practical risk score using clinical variables and results of DSE stratified patients into three risk groups for mortality and cardiovascular morbidity.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Recommendations for chamber quantification.

Quantification of cardiac chamber size, ventricular mass and function ranks among the most clinically important and most frequently requested tasks of echocardiography. Over the last decades, echocardiographic methods and techniques have improved and expanded dramatically, due to the introduction of higher frequency transducers, harmonic imaging, fully digital machines, left-sided contrast agents, and other technological advancements. Furthermore, echocardiography due to its portability and versatility is now used in emergency rooms, operating rooms, and intensive care units. Standardization of measurements in echocardiography has been inconsistent and less successful, compared to other imaging techniques and consequently, echocardiographic measurements are sometimes perceived as less reliable. Therefore, the American Society of Echocardiography, working together with the European Association of Echocardiography, a branch of the European Society of Cardiology, has critically reviewed the literature and updated the recommendations for quantifying cardiac chambers using echocardiography. This document reviews the technical aspects on how to perform quantitative chamber measurements of morphology and function, which is a component of every complete echocardiographic examination.

Cardiac Volume↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of usefulness of echocardiographic Doppler variables to left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in predicting future heart failure events.

We sought to determine whether the echocardiographic Doppler parameters of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction predict future heart failure (HF) events and, if so, which parameters best predict HF. We also examined whether the predictive ability of echocardiographic Doppler parameters was related to their prediction of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). We studied patients who underwent cardiac catheterization and echocardiography performed within a 30-day period. The end point was HF, defined as new-onset or recurrent HF diagnosed by a physician and requiring the initiation or modification of treatment of HF. We identified 289 patients (mean age 63.5 +/- 12.6 years) with a mean follow-up of 10.9 +/- 10.2 months. A total of 24 HF events occurred. LVEDP was a significant predictor of HF univariately and independently in multiple regression models after adjustment for ejection fraction. In Cox models adjusted for age, gender, LVEDP, and ejection fraction, only the left atrial volume index and early mitral inflow to early diastolic tissue velocity (E/e') ratio remained predictive of HF. A multiple regression model, including all echocardiographic variables, showed a persistent, although attenuated, relation of early to late mitral inflow velocity (E/A) ratio and E/e' with LVEDP (p = 0.06 and p = 0.002, respectively). The addition of E/e' or the left atrial volume indexed to body surface area, but not E/A, to the clinical history and left ventricular ejection fraction provided incremental prognostic information. A LVEDP of > or =20 mm Hg, E/e' ratio of > or =15, and left atrial volume index of > or =23 ml/m(2) identified those with a higher risk of HF. In conclusion, invasively determined LVEDP is an independent predictor of future HF events. E/e' and the left atrial volume indexed to body surface area are the best independent predictors of future HF and provide prognostic information incremental to the clinical history and left ventricular ejection fraction.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Carcinoid heart disease.

Progress in the medical and surgical management of patients with carcinoid disease has resulted in improved symptoms and survival. Carcinoid heart disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with malignant carcinoid syndrome. Limited medical treatment options are available for patients with symptomatic carcinoid heart disease. At the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), we have taken an aggressive approach to severe valvular dysfunction from carcinoid heart disease. Patients with severe carcinoid heart disease currently are referred for cardiac operation when they develop cardiac symptoms, ventricular dysfunction, or (rarely) in anticipation of hepatic surgery. Surgical outcome depends on patient age and functional class at the time of cardiac surgery. Despite metastatic disease that limits longevity, cardiac surgical survivors usually demonstrate dramatic improvement in functional capacity. Cardiac surgery should be considered early for patients with symptomatic carcinoid heart disease and controlled carcinoid symptoms. An experienced medical, surgical, and anesthetic team approach to the patient with carcinoid heart disease is critical in order to provide state of the art management.

Bioprosthesis↗
PubMed2006

Wall motion score index and ejection fraction for risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic importance of regional systolic function, as assessed by wall motion score index (WMSI), compared with global function, as assessed by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), has not been assessed in large populations after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Echocardiograms, including the assessment of WMSI and LVEF, were performed in 767 patients with acute myocardial infarction at a median of 1 day (25th and 75th percentiles 0-2 days) after admission. Patients were followed for a median of 19 months (range 12-28 months). Cox proportional hazards models were constructed for the primary study end point (all-cause mortality) and for a secondary end point (hospitalization for congestive heart failure). RESULTS: During follow-up (median 40 months; range 32-50 months), 216 patients died and 54 patients were hospitalized for congestive heart failure. By univariate analysis, both LVEF (P < .0001) and WMSI (P < .0001) were powerful predictors of all-cause mortality. By a forward conditional Cox model, WMSI proved to be an independent predictor of death (hazard ratio 1.15 per 0.2-unit increase, 95% CI 1.10-1.21, P < .0001). When WMSI was included in the model, LVEF did not provide additional prognostic information (P = .77). Wall motion score index also proved to be an independent predictor of hospitalization for congestive heart failure (hazard ratio 1.21 per 0.2-unit increase, 95% CI 1.07-1.37, P = .002), whereas LVEF did not (P = .56). CONCLUSION: Both LVEF and WMSI provide powerful prognostic information after acute myocardial infarction; however, the predictive power of WMSI is greater.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Determining myocardial viability in chronic ischemic left ventricular dysfunction: a prospective comparison of rest-redistribution thallium 201 single-photon emission computed tomography, nitroglycerin-dobutamine echocardiography, and intracoronary myocardial contrast echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Detection of viable myocardium (VM) has important therapeutic implications for chronic ischemic left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. We compared the ability of nitroglycerin-dobutamine echocardiography (NTG-DE), intracoronary myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE), and rest-redistribution thallium 201 single-photon emission computed tomography (RRT-SPECT) to detect VM in this setting. METHODS: Patients with LV ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% and multivessel coronary disease suitable for revascularization underwent NTG-DE, MCE, RRT-SPECT, and radionuclide ventriculography to determine baseline LVEF. Myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed using intracoronary injection of Albunex. Patients who underwent revascularization had 3-month postprocedural radionuclide ventriculography and transthoracic echocardiography to assess functional recovery. RESULTS: Of 512 myocardial segments in the 32 patients studied, 309 were akinetic or dyskinetic at baseline. Nitroglycerin alone increased regional thickening in 20% of segments with contractile reserve. By RRT-SPECT, 93% of nitroglycerin-responsive segments were viable. Myocardial contrast echocardiography had up to 85% sensitivity and 74% specificity for detection of VM diagnosed by RRT-SPECT. In the 23 patients who underwent revascularization, 54% of akinetic segments showed improved contractility, and mean LVEF increased from 32% to 37% (P = .04). Sensitivities and specificities for detecting functional recovery were 95% and 37% for RRT-SPECT, up to 87% and 48% for MCE, and 63% and 83% for a biphasic response during NTG-DE. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic ischemic LV dysfunction, RRT-SPECT had the highest sensitivity, and NTG-DE, the best specificity for detection of VM. Nitroglycerin facilitated detection of VM and may be a useful adjunct to dobutamine stimulation.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Prognostic significance of ST-segment elevation during dobutamine stress echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available concerning the significance of ST-segment elevation during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of new ST-segment elevation during DSE and its relationship to angiographic severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: From 4240 consecutive patients who had DSE, we identified 134 (3%) patients with new stress-induced ST-segment elevation > or =1 mm in at least two contiguous electrocardiographic leads. Significant CAD was considered as > or =50% diameter obstruction by angiography. Follow-up was obtained for cardiac events. RESULTS: Age was 69 +/- 10 years; 84 (63%) were men. ST-segment elevation developed in the anterior leads in 55 (41%), inferior leads in 100 (75%), and lateral leads in 54 (40%); 56 (42%) had ST elevation in more than one region. Dobutamine stress echocardiography was abnormal in all patients; 115 (86%) had ischemia. Coronary angiography was obtained in 69 (51%) patients. Stenosis was > or =70% diameter in 68 (99%) patients and multivessel in 53 (77%). Follow-up (2.6 +/- 2.8 years) was obtained in all 134 patients. Events occurred in 103 (77%) patients, including death in 53, coronary revascularization in 33, myocardial infarction in 12, and unstable angina in 5. Event-free survival was 55% at 2 years, 38% at 4 years, and 28% at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with stress-induced ST-segment elevation during DSE commonly have severe CAD and are at high risk for events during follow-up. These patients should be considered for coronary angiography.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Exertional changes in circulating cardiac natriuretic peptides in patients with suggested coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: We measured plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels before and after exercise stress testing and correlated results with echocardiographic evidence of ischemia. METHODS: Sixty patients with left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 50% referred for clinically indicated exercise echocardiogram were studied. Peptides were measured at rest and 5 minutes after symptom-limited exercise. RESULTS: Echocardiography was positive for ischemia in 19 (32%). With exercise, ANP level increased in all 60 patients (median at rest 2501 [799-6440]-3167 [977-8563] pg/mL after exercise [P < .0001]). BNP increased in 54 patients (90%) (19 [<3.9-213]-30 [<3.9-318] pg/mL [P < .0001]). In multivariable analysis, both exercise BNP level and exertional change in BNP were closely associated with rest BNP (P < .0001); both were also significantly associated with change in wall-motion score index and workload (P = .001 and P = .01, respectively). Exercise ANP was strongly related to rest level (P < .0001); change in ANP was related to workload (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: In patients with suggested coronary artery disease, exertional levels of BNP are influenced not only by development of stress-induced ischemia, but also by resting levels.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Role of biplane and biplane echocardiographically guided 3-dimensional echocardiography during dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Image acquisition time and wall-motion score of conventional 2-dimensional (2D) dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) were compared with those of biplane and 3-dimensional (3D) DSE in 50 patients (age 67 +/- 13 years) with regular rhythms during clinically indicated DSE. Commercially available systems were used for the study. We used a conventional transducer for 2D and a matrix-array transducer (x4 or x3-1) for two biplane (60- and 120-degree) images and one 3D full-volume image. Image quality was scored as 1 = good; 2 = adequate; and 3 = inadequate. Segmental wall-motion scores for each method were analyzed in blinded fashion. Acquisition times of biplane (9.3 +/- 2.8 seconds) and biplane-guided 3D (additional 2.6 +/- 1.0 seconds) echocardiography were significantly shorter than those of conventional 2D DSE (60.0 +/- 26.7 seconds) (P < .001). Image quality was adequate or good in 94% for biplane and 96% for 3D echocardiography. Agreement of segmental wall-motion score was present in 87.6% of segments for 2D versus biplane and 85.9% for 2D versus 3D at baseline and in 88.0% for 2D versus biplane and 87.4% for 2D versus 3D at peak stress. Acquisition of biplane or biplane-guided 3D volumetric data during DSE with use of a new matrix-array transducer was feasible and shortened image acquisition time without affecting the diagnostic yield compared with conventional 2D imaging.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Prognosis of carcinoid heart disease: analysis of 200 cases over two decades.

BACKGROUND: The long-term prognosis of patients who develop carcinoid heart disease and the effect of cardiac surgery on outcome are not well established. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this retrospective study, we identified 200 patients with carcinoid syndrome referred for echocardiography in whom the diagnosis of carcinoid heart disease was confirmed. Patients were divided into 3 groups of similar size according to the date from first diagnosis of carcinoid heart disease. Group A comprised patients diagnosed from 1981 through June 1989; group B, diagnosed July 1989 through May 1995; and group C, June 1995 through 2000. The end point was all-cause mortality. Median survival was significantly lower in group A (1.5 years, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.9 years) compared with groups B (3.2, 95% CI 1.3 to 5.1 years) and C (4.4, 95% CI 2.4 to 7.1 years; P=0.009). In a multivariate model adjusted for treatment and clinical characteristics, the risk of death in groups B (hazard ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.99, P=0.04) and C (hazard ratio 0.61, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.92, P=0.006) was significantly reduced relative to group A. Cardiac surgery was performed in 87 patients. When cardiac surgery was included as a time-dependent covariate in a multivariate analysis, it was associated with a risk reduction of 0.48 (95% CI 0.31 to 0.73, P<0.001), whereas the time period of diagnosis was no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients with recognized carcinoid heart disease has improved over the past 2 decades at our institution. This change in survival may be related to valve replacement surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Subepicardial adipose tissue and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Mechanistic studies suggest that paracrine effects of subepicardial adipose tissue may promote coronary atherosclerosis, but this has not been confirmed in clinical studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 180 consecutive patients who underwent echocardiography and coronary angiography within 1 week (mean 2.5+/-2.0 days), 139 (80 men, 68+/-13 years) were studied. Subepicardial adipose tissue on the free wall of right ventricle was measured at end-diastole from parasternal long- and short-axis views of three cardiac cycles. Angiograms were analyzed for the presence, extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), using a 27-segment classification. The number of segments with at least 20% (CAGE > or = 20) and 50% (CAGE > or = 50) stenosis was recorded. Age showed a significant correlation with subepicardial adipose tissue thickness measured from parasternal long- (r=0.25, p=0.003) and short-axis view (r=0.23, p=0.01). No significant correlation was found between subepicardial adipose tissue thickness and any angiographic or other clinical variables (p>0.05). Neither the proportion of patients with significant or any CAD nor the severity score, CAGE > or = 20, and CAGE > or = 50 among each of four quartiles was significantly associated with subepicardial adipose tissue thickness. CONCLUSIONS: In this selected population, the amount of subepicardial adipose tissue thickness was not associated with the severity of CAD. Whether subepicardial adipose tissue has any atherosclerotic effect remains to be proven.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2005

Relation of QRS duration on the surface 12-lead electrocardiogram with mortality in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

The aim of this study was to assess the relation between QRS duration and mortality in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease, after adjustment for myocardial functional abnormalities, as assessed by exercise echocardiography. We studied 4,033 patients (age 62 +/- 12 years; 2,360 men, 18% with previous myocardial infarction) who underwent symptom-limited exercise echocardiography. The QRS duration was electronically measured from the 12-lead electrocardiogram. The incremental value of the QRS duration for predicting mortality was assessed by adding the QRS duration at the end of each of these modeling steps: clinical data, exercise electrocardiographic, and exercise echocardiographic variables. The QRS duration correlated positively with age, the wall motion score index at rest, and percentage of ischemic segments and negatively with workload (p = 0.0001). Of the 4,033 patients, 252 died during a median follow-up of 3 years. The QRS duration was univariately associated with an increased risk of death (relative risk 8.5, 95% confidence interval CI 4.4 to 16.4, p <0.0001). In an incremental multivariate model, the clinical predictors of mortality were age, male gender, previous infarction, and diabetes mellitus (chi-square 122). Workload was incremental to clinical data in the exercise test model (chi-square 193, p <0.0001). The exercise wall motion score index was incremental to both models (chi-square 211, p <0.001). The QRS duration was associated with an incremental risk of death when added to the clinical model (chi-square 133, p = 0.009), exercise test model (chi-square = 203, p = 0.002), and echocardiographic model (chi-square = 216, p = 0.03). A QRS duration > or =105 ms best identified patients at increased risk. In conclusion, QRS duration is associated with an increased risk of death, even after adjustment for clinical factors, exercise capacity, left ventricular function, and exercise-induced myocardial ischemia.

Blood Pressure↗