DOBUTAMINE STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY - MONO CENTRIC EXPERIENCE OF 600 CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS - INFLUENCE OF AGE

The increasing indications of dobutamine stress echo in the investigat ion of myocardial ischaemia, viability and evaluation of the prognosis of coronary artery disease has made this technique a tool of everyday clinical practice. The authors reviewed the results of 600 investigat ions in consecutive unselected including patients aged over 75. No sig nificant difference was observed with respect to the causes of interru ption of the test between patients aged less than 75 (521 patients) an d those older than 75 (79 patients). Attaining the target theoretical maximal heart rate was the commonest reason for stopping the test (47 and 48 % respectively). Ventricular arrhythmias were not more common ( 12 and 10 % respectively). Twelve cases of ventricular tachycardia wer e observed, 8 of which were non-sustained; 9 led to interruption of th e test. No cases of ventricular fibrillation were observed. A previous history of cardiac arrhythmias was not associated with a higher frequ ency of arrhythmia during the test (8 % in those with a previous histo ry, 4 % in those patients without). Supraventricular arrhythmias were significantly more common in patients over 75 years of age (15 versus 8 %, p = 0.046). Dobutamine stress echocardiography is feasible in a p opulation of unselected patients, including those over 75. Therefore, age does not represent a limitation to the extension of this investiga tion.