TreningsECG

TreningsECG, or exercise electrocardiography, is a diagnostic test in which a patient performs physical activity while continuous ECG monitoring is performed. The test assesses cardiovascular response to increasing workload, detects inducible ischemia, measures exercise capacity, and informs treatment and rehabilitation decisions.

The test is usually done on a treadmill or cycle ergometer. Baseline ECG, blood pressure, and symptoms are recorded, while heart rate and rhythm are continuously monitored. Workload increases in predefined stages until a target heart rate is reached, symptoms appear, or abnormal findings occur. Some centers add imaging or gas exchange measurements.

Interpretation centers on ST-segment changes, abnormal repolarization, heart-rate response, blood pressure response, and exercise-limiting symptoms or arrhythmias. A positive result suggests myocardial ischemia or other cardiac issues; a negative result lowers but does not eliminate the probability of coronary disease, particularly in higher-risk patients.

Common indications include evaluation of chest pain or dyspnea, risk stratification after myocardial infarction or revascularization, preoperative assessment, and determination of exercise capacity for rehabilitation or athletic training. Relative contraindications include recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina, decompensated heart failure, severe aortic stenosis, and uncontrolled arrhythmias.

Safety is high when performed in appropriate facilities with trained staff; adverse events are uncommon but possible. Stop criteria should be predefined, and emergency equipment should be available. Limitations include false positives and negatives and reduced sensitivity in some populations.

In practice, treningsECG is a principal component of cardiovascular assessment and exercise prescription and may be used alone or with imaging to improve diagnostic yield.