Thirty-Month Follow-Up of Resting and Postexercise Apexcardiogram in Asymptomatic Subjects

Ninety-eight asmptomatic subjects who had a resting and postexercise apexcardiogram and maximal treadmill stress test (MTST) were clinically evaluated 30 months later. Two of six subjects (33%) with an initially abnormal resting apexcardiogram and two of 92 subjects (2.2%) with an initially normal resting apexcardiogram developed coronary heart disease within 30 months. Three of 15 subjects (20%) with an initially abnormal postexercise apexcardiogram and one of 83 subjects (1.2%) with an initially normal postexercise apexcardiogram developed coronary heart disease within 30 months. Two of four subjects (50%) with an initially abnormal resting apexcardiogram and MTST and two of 94 subjects (2.1%) without both an initially abnormal resting apexcardiogram and MTST developed coronary heart disease within 30 months. Three of seven subjects (43%) with an initially abnormal postexercise apexcardiogram and MTST and one of 91 subjects (1.1%) without both an initially abnormal postexercise apexcardiogram and MTST developed coronary heart disease within 30 months. An abnormal resting apexcardiogram, postexercise apexcardiogram, or MTST correlated with an increased incidence of subsequent coronary heart disease. An abnormal postexercise apexcardiogram plus an abnormal MTST correlated best with an increased incidence of subsequent coronary heart disease.