Negative exercise stress test Does it mean anything?

Introduction Despite its low sensitivity and specificity (67% and 72%, respectively), exercise testing has remained one of the most widely used noninvasive tests to determine the prognosis in patients with suspected or established coronary disease. As a screening test for coronary artery disease, the exercise stress test is useful in that it is relatively simple and inexpensive. It has been considered particularly helpful in patients with chest pain syndromes who have moderate probability for coronary artery disease, and in whom the resting electrocardiogram (ECG) is normal. The following case presentation and discussion will question the predictive value of a negative stress testing in patients with moderate probability for coronary artery disease.