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Common Heart Tests Not For Everyone

New federal guidelines presented in the February 17, 2004 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine recommend that three common heart tests used to detect problems should not be done on low-risk patients who are experiencing no cardiovascular symptoms.

The three tests in question are the Treadmill Test, Resting EKG and the Electron Beam Computerized Tomography Scan. The new guidelines for their use were issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task force and replaced ones issued in 1996.

The Task Force Chairman, Dr. Ned Calonge, says that if “you are a low-risk adult with no symptoms, there is really no reason to experience these tests. We do not recommend them because of the risk of false positives.”

According to Calonge, false positives usually lead to further, much more invasive tests such as coronary angiography and unnecessary medical treatment including dangerous medications.

Interestingly, the task force found there was insufficient evidence that the three tests were even effective in adults who were at an increased risk for heart disease.

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