Lessons learned from studies of the standard exercise ECG test

The above lessons that were learned from studies of exercise testing are pertinent today, particularly as we investigate new diagnostic technologies. The key role of population selection in assessing the validity of studies evaluating diagnostic and screening tests for CAD is now very apparent. It is interesting to note the evolution of test evaluation that has occurred over the history of exercise testing. A number of articles that state the rules for evaluating studies of diagnostic tests have targeted the exercise test as well as other procedures. Others have used these standards in meta-analysis of tests. Thus, the criteria for demonstrating the diagnostic characteristics of tests are now common knowledge and should be considered when reviewing such studies. Particularly when applied with scores that consider more than the ST-segment response, the diagnostic characteristics of the exercise test are similar to those of newer technologies that are more expensive and less well studied.