Comparison of QRS score and treadmill performance for assessing ventricular function after myocardial infarction

QRS score as a means to assess left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been developed recently and its significance confirmed by various studies. Similarly, the value of maximal treadmill exercise test as a means to assess functional capacity is well known. The present study was done to determine if there is any correlation between QRS score and treadmill exercise performance. Twenty patients with AMI, 3 months after the event, were studied. No significant correlation was observed in terms of duration of exercise (r = -0.007, p = 0.48) or magnitude of ST segment depression (r = 0.015, p = 0.475). QRS score denotes the resting LVEF while exercise-induced ischemia produces changes in dysfunctioning myocardium. These two tests denote different parameters and a judicious combination of both is suggested to assess patients following AMI.