Dobutamine stress quantitative tissue tracking technique for detecting elderly coronary artery disease

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of dobutamine stress quantitative tissue tracking technique (DSE+TT) for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with ≥60 years old. Methods The subjects had DSE, and completed coronary angiography (CAG) in two weeks. The peak distance (Dpeak) in different dobutamine stress doses were measured and analysed during systolic period in mid-segments of left ventricle walls in echopac 8.0 workstation. The subjects were divided into CAD group and normal group. Results The Dpeak of the anterior wall, anterior septal wall, lateral wall and posterior wall from the CAD group in 10, 20 μg·kg-1·min-1 dobutamine stress doses were less than those in the normal group with the statistically significant difference. However the Dpeak of the inferior wall in any doses between two groups had no significant difference. Compared with CAG, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of Dpeak for detection CAD in the elderly patients were 82.4%,61.7%,72.4%, respectively. At the dobutamine dose of 40 μg·kg-1·min-1, the Dpeak achieved maximum sensitivity and specificity (88.2% 69.5%). Conclusion The quantitative dobutamine stress tissue tracking technique is a safe, effective and non-invasive technique for detecting CAD in old patients (≥60 years old).