EVALUATION OF CARDIAC SYSTOLIC FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITHCHRONIC STABLE ANGINA AND NORMAL RESTING ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

Background: chronic stable angina is a common disease afflicting millions of peopleworldwide. the purpose of this study was to assess whether normal electrocardiogram (ecg) inthis group of patients would mean normal cardiac systolic function.methods: ejection fraction was determined by cardiac angiography in 389 consecutive patientswith chronic stable angina who had normal resting ecg. data was analyzed using t-test inspss 10.5.results: only 15 patients (3.9%) with chronic stable angina and normal resting ecg had impairedcardiac systolic function (low ejection fraction).conclusion: although a normal ecg by no means exclude possibility of coronary artery diseasein patients with symptoms consistent with chronic stable angina, it makes the presence ofleft ventricular systolic function less likely and might predict a better prognosis.