Prognostic value of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in elderly patients with hypertension: a 10-year follow-up analysis

Warranty period of normal stress myocardial perfusion imaging in hypertensive patients: A parametric survival analysis

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the warranty period of a normal stress myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) in hypertensive patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 471 consecutive hypertensive patients with suspected coronary artery disease and normal perfusion at stress MPS were followed for a mean of 76 ± 21 months. Endpoint events were cardiac death or nonfatal myocardial infarction. With Cox analysis, age (hazard ratio 1.1, P < .005) and stress test type (hazard ratio 2.7, P < .005) were independent predictors of events. With parametric Weibull analysis, patients ≤60 years old undergoing exercise stress test remained at low risk for the entire length of follow-up, while the highest probability of events and the major risk acceleration were observed in those > 60 years old who underwent pharmacologic stress test. In patients undergoing exercise test, peak systolic blood pressure (BP; hazard ratio 1.1, P < .005) emerged as predictor of events, and only subjects with peak systolic BP < 160 mmHg remained at low risk for the entire length of follow-up. In contrast, for patients with peak systolic BP ≥180 mmHg, the time to achieve a cumulative cardiac risk level of 3% was 18 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In hypertensive patients, the warranty period of a normal stress MPS varies according to stress type and peak systolic BP. A normal stress MPS can be considered reassuring in subjects ≤60 years old who performed exercise stress test and a peak systolic BP < 160 mmHg.

Prognosis in patients with suspected or known ischemic heart disease and normal myocardial perfusion: long-term outcome and temporal risk variations

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of a normal myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) may be well described, but long-term follow-up data are sparse, and temporal variations in risk are insufficiently elucidated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

During long-term follow-up (mean 6.2 years) of 1,327 consecutive Danish patients with normal MPS, the rate of all-cause death (ACD) was 1.9%/year (differing by gender) and of cardiac death (CD)/myocardial infarction (MI) 0.8%/year (differing by coronary artery disease, CAD). Female gender (HR: 0.60), age (HR: 1.07 per-year increment), and known CAD without prior revascularization (HR: 2.17) were statistically significant factors for ACD, whereas diabetes and previous MI per se were not. Known CAD with previous revascularization carried a low risk of ACD when adjusted for gender and age (HR: 0.56). For CD/MI, risk increased with age and threefold with known CAD, previous MI, and previous percutaneous coronary intervention. Judged from smoothed hazard functions, mortality risk increased further with time for men, elderly, and diabetics and markedly further with known CAD without prior revascularization.

CONCLUSIONS

Following a normal MPS, rates of death and hard cardiac events were low. Risk varied with age, gender, and disease history. Novel aspects of temporal risk variation suggested a general warranty period of 5 years, but less in risk groups.