Evaluation of Risk Factors Associated with Positive Exercise Tolerance Test

Abstract

Objective: To determine the potential risk factors in patients aged under 40 years with a positive Exercise Tolerance Test (ETT). Study Design: Prospective study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Cardiology Choudhary Pervaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology (CPEIC), Multan, Pakistan, from 1st January 2021 to 1st March 2022. Materials and Methods: The study included 285 patients with positive ETT, selected through non-probability consecutive sampling. Patients were grouped into two age brackets: 20-30 and 31-40. Patients were advised to stop taking nitrates, calcium channel blockers and beta blockers a day before the test. The patients were investigated for potential risk factors that caused the positivity of EET. Results: The study was conducted on 285 patients. The age of the participants was 30.12±5.64 years. There were 185 (64.9%) males and 100 (35.1%) females. The BMI was .32±1.38 kg/m2. Obesity was recorded in 38 (13.3%) patients, 85 (29.8%) had a family history, 63 (22.1%) had dyslipidemia, hypertension in 58 (20.4%), 32 (11.2%) had a smoking history, and 56 (19.6%) had diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus (p=0.00) and dyslipidemia (p=0.004) were found to be the most significant risk factors in patients aged between 31-40 years with positive EET. Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia are the most significant causes of positive EET in patients aged between 31-40 years.

Keywords

• coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, exercise tolerance test, hypertension, risk factors, smoking