Statistical methods to improve the precision of the treadmill exercise test

OBJECTIVES The study systematically compared different measures of ST segme nt depression from the treadmill exercise test. BACKGROUND The value of the treadmill exercise test for objectively measuri ng treatment effects is limited by random error in the measurement of ST de pression and may be biased by regression to the mean or by the decision to terminate the test. METHODS Treadmill exercise was performed in 21 subjects with ischemic heart disease 1 h after isosorbide dinitrate 10 mg or placebo in a double-blind randomized crossover study. a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded every 30 s during and at peak exercise. The relative sample size needed to detect the nitrate effect was compared for different summary measures of ST depression. RESULTS The ST depression measured from a single unmatched lead at longest equivalent sub-maximal exercise needed the lowest sample size to detect the nitrate effect in paired comparisons (p = 0.000006). Averaging over multip le leads or times did not improve detection of the nitrate effect. The rate of increase in ST depression (in mm/min) calculated by linear regression n eeded a similar sample size (x1.32, 95% CI 0.62 to 2.58). A larger sample s ize was needed for ST depression at peak exercise (x2.9, CI 1.3, 11.1) and exercise duration (x4.5, CI 1.5, 38). Time to 1-mm ST depression was the le ast efficient measurement (relative sample size x15.5, CI 1.6, >1000). Comp arison of matched leads resulted in >2-fold differences in estimates of the nitrate effect because of bias from regression to the mean. CONCLUSIONS Maximal ST depression at longest equivalent sub-maximal exercis e and the maximal rate of increase in ST depression had less bias and rando m variation than did other commonly used measures. The rate of increase in ST depression is preferred because it call be calculated in either paired o r unpaired studies. CT Am Coil Cardiol 2000;36:1274-9) (C) 2000 by the Amer ican College of Cardiology.