Journal of nuclear cardiology : official publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized trial of exercise treadmill ECG versus stress SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging as an initial diagnostic strategy in stable patients with chest pain and suspected CAD: cost analysis.
Exercise electrocardiography (ETT) is frequently used in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) improves diagnostic stratification. There are no randomized trials comparing ETT and MPI. We hypothesized that first-line MPI would be effective and cost-saving versus ETT. ⋯ In this study there was no difference in cost to diagnosis between initial ETT and MPI. In low-likelihood patients ETT was less costly, whereas there was no cost difference in intermediate- or high-likelihood patients.