Re: Stress Test results

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on November 27, 1998 at 22:54:21:

In Reply to: Stress Test results posted by Rhonda on November 27, 1998 at 22:39:10:






I have MVP and had a stress test done.  Part of the conclusion was that a Suboptimal Cardiac workload archieved.  I don't understand this.  This is what the report said. "patient exercised for a total of 10min 21 sec achieving a maximum blook pressure of 160/80, and a maximum blood heart rate of 154 which calculates out to a rate pressure product of 24,640 yiedling a suboptimal cardiac workload.  One pvc was noted at peak exericse.  Why is my test suboptimal?  I could have gone longer but that said I reached the heart rate they were looking for so I could quit anytime.  Thanks Rhonda



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Dear Rhonda, thank you for your question.  Im as confused as you are.  We normally determine cardiac workload from the maximum heart rate achieved during the stress test.   We predict beforehand what an adequate heart rate will be to achieve an exercise level that we believe is truly stressing the heart.  The minimum heart rate necessary for this is 85% of the maximum age-predicted heart rate.  The age-predicted heart rate is determined by subtracting age from 220.  For example, a 40 year old person would have a maximum predicted heart rate of 180 and 85% of 180 would be 153.  Thus, if you are 40 or older, you reached your target heart rate during your stress test and your cardiac workload would have been adequate. The rate pressure produce is a technique of correlating blood pressure and heart rate changes during exercise, but is not the usual indicator used to determine the cardiac workload.  Thus, I suggest that you speak with your cardiologist regarding the stress test result.  
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