Ratio of exercise and recovery systolic blood pressure integrals in prediction of coronary artery disease

Aim This study was performed to determine whether the ratio (Q =A/B) of area A under the curve of exercise systolic blood pressure(SBP) increase and area B under curve of recovery SBP decreaseis predictive of angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods Patients who performed exercise testing and subsequentlyunderwent coronary angiography, within three months, wereanalyzed in this study. According to angiographic report, patientswere divided in three groups: without disease or with stenosis lessthan 50% (group 1), significant (group 2), and severe (group 3).Severe disease was defined as left main, three-vessel or two-vesseldisease with involvement of proximal left anterior descending artery.Results There were 137 patients included in this study (age 59 ±10, 70% male). Group 1 included 57%, group 2 included 30%,and group 3 included 13% of patients. Mean values of the Q ratiowere 2.72 ± 0.9, 1.74 ± 0.76, 1.01 ± 0.38 in groups 1, 2 and 3,respectively. By means of robust discrimination analysis, statisticallysignificant difference between groups 1, 2 and 3 in values ofthe ratio Q (p < 0.001) was found.Conclusion The ratio of exercise SBP increase and recovery SBPdecrease areas under the curve suggests severity of CAD.