Evidence on harms was limited , but direct harms seemed minimal ( for resting ECG ) or small ( for exercise ECG ) .
BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in adults .
Screening for abnormalities by using resting or exercise electrocardiography ( ECG ) might help identify persons who would benefit from interventions to reduce cardiovascular risk .
PURPOSE To up date the 2004 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force evidence review on screening for  resting or exercise ECG abnormalities in asymptomatic adults .
Diagnostic value of the maximal ST segment/heart rate slope in asymptomatic factory populations.
In Leeds in hospital population s of patients with angina the maximal ST/HR slope was found to be a reliable index of myocardial ischemia as assessed by coronary angiography . Subsequent studies in Leeds and elsewhere in population s of patients with cardiac enlargement or following myocardial infa rct ion have shown that the slope is affected by myocardial scarring , ventricular enlargement and aneurysm . These findings implied that the slope had features in common with other usual exercise tests ; studies in Leeds and elsewhere , however , have shown a superior diagnostic reliability using the maximal ST/HR slope in patients with angina . The present report involves the use of the slope in asymptomatic population s. Trials are being undertaken in two factory population s , which respectively comprised all volunteers or asymptomatic men over the age of 30 who were r and omly chosen by computer . Subjects with slope values indicating , according to previous experience , myocardial ischemia equivalent to coronary heart disease were referred for cardiological investigations which included angiocardiography ; blind comparisons were performed between results of investigations and the slope . So far 1194 subjects have been examined . In 68 subjects the maximal ST/HR slope indicated myocardial ischemia , and in 24 of these cardiological investigations were completed . In nine of the 24 subjects the slope corresponded to the number of significantly narrowed coronary arteries ( greater than 75 % reduction in luminal diameter ) ; in 12 of the remaining 15 subjects who had no coronary narrowing , there were cardiac lesions which included cardiac enlargement , aortic valve disease , myocarditis , pericarditis , myocardial bridging and conduction defects . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
Evidence on harms was limited , but direct harms seemed minimal ( for resting ECG ) or small ( for exercise ECG ) .
BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in adults .
Screening for abnormalities by using resting or exercise electrocardiography ( ECG ) might help identify persons who would benefit from interventions to reduce cardiovascular risk .
PURPOSE To up date the 2004 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force evidence review on screening for  resting or exercise ECG abnormalities in asymptomatic adults .