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Invasive Heart Test May Be Overused, Researchers Say

from the Los Angeles Times (Registration Required)

Nearly two-thirds of those who undergo an invasive heart test called cardiac catheterization when they do not have diagnosed heart disease receive a clean bill of health, suggesting that the expensive procedure--which exposes the patient to substantial amounts of radiation--may be overused, researchers reported Wednesday.

Such elective testing accounts for only about 20% of all cardiac catheterizations, but the findings reported in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that better ways should be found to identify patients who actually need the procedure.

Experts cautioned, however, that the findings should not be viewed with alarm. Just because a patient does not have a severe obstruction in the arteries "does not mean that they don't need therapy," said Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a cardiologist at UCLA's Geffen School of Medicine who was not involved in the research. They may still need medical treatment or lifestyle alteration.