The safety of treadmill exercise stress testing in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms

Ann Intern Med. 1998 Oct 15;129(8):628-31. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-129-8-199810150-00008.

Abstract

Background: Exercise stress testing in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms may cause enlargement or rupture of aneurysms.

Objective: To evaluate the safety of treadmill exercise stress testing in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Design: Retrospective descriptive study.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Patients: 262 patients who had abdominal aortic aneurysms more than 4 cm in diameter and underwent treadmill exercise stress testing.

Measurements: Pain after stress testing, rupture of the aneurysm or death, aneurysm size, and exercise stress test results.

Results: The average aneurysm diameter was 5.5 +/- 1.1 cm. One patient with a 6.1-cm aneurysm was found to have a contained rupture 12 hours after stress testing. The event rate for aneurysm rupture was 0.4% (95% CI, 0.0% to 2.1%). No deaths or other negative outcomes were documented.

Conclusion: Despite theoretical concerns, exercise stress testing of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms seems to be safe and is associated with a low incidence of acute adverse events.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / complications*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / mortality
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / physiopathology
  • Aortic Rupture / etiology*
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Electrocardiography
  • Exercise Test / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Selection Bias