Multiparametric prognostication of imaging techniques in coronary artery disease: a comparative assessment of exercise electrocardiography, dipyridamole echocardiography, and coronary angiography

A Cox survival analysis identified ejection fraction (relative risk [RR]=4.4) and echocardiographic positivity of dipyridamole test (RR=3.6) as independent and additive predictors of subsequent death, and echocardiographic positivity after dipyridamole as the best predictor of cardiac events (RR=1.9), followed by a pathological coronary arteriography (RR=1.2). We conclude that the presence of a transient dyssynergy during dipyridamole stress is a useful pedictor of subsequent cardiac events, even more valuable than classical prognostic indexes such as exercise electrocardiography stress test results and number of diseased coronary vessels