Screening for coronary artery disease

Unidentified coronary artery disease remains a significant cause of prematu re death and morbidity during the prime of life. The availability of effect ive interventions for the management of ischemia has provoked new interest in screening for this condition in asymptomatic patients, in the hope of re ducing the burden of this condition. Although widespread use of stress test ing is ineffective, the use of imaging techniques may offer better accuracy for detection of ischemia. Other tests that identify evidence of atheroma in the peripheral or coronary circulation may be useful to identify patient s at risk.