PURPOSE: To determine the prognostic value of dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography (DASE). METHODS: We studied 452 consecutive patients at high risk for coronary artery disease, using DASE. They were followed during a mean period of 23 months. RESULTS: There were 9 cardiac deaths and 2 acute myocardial infarctions in the group of patients with positive tests, and there were 2 myocardial infarctions and 1 cardiac death in patients with negative DASE. CONCLUSION: We conclude that DASE reliably identifies patients at high risk for hard cardiac events.
echocardiography; coronary artery disease; dobutamine
