An investigation of myocardial ischaemia risk factors of Maltese patients presenting for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy

Abstract

Objectives: This study identified the risk factors recorded in patient records for a sample of Maltese patients undergoing myocardial perfusion stress testing with the aim of reviewing the association between these factors and the results of the Electrocardiogram (ECG) and the Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy (MPS) findings. Methods: Ethical approval was obtained from local research committees to review 252 patient medical histories.Non-traditional risk factors were investigated together with criteria unique to the Maltese population for the presence of myocardial ischaemia. The electrocardiogram and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy results were collated for each patient and compared to the Summed Stress score and risk factors present. Results: The results obtained were analysed through regression analysis and chi-square tests with the use of IBM SPSS (version 24). The majority ofreviewed cases (46.8%) involved patients that had performed some type of unskilled manual job during the course of their life. Diabetes (p = 0.012), smoking (p = 0.003) and a past history of myocardial infarction (p < 0.001) showed a strong statistical correlation to the presence of myocardial ischaemia within the Maltese cohort. Results revealed that an arthritic inflammatory condition was present in 36% of patients presenting for myocardial scintigraphy. Conclusion: The triage of patients into low, intermediate and high-risk subgroups cannot be solely based upon the traditional myocardial ischaemiarisk factors established within the literature. Population based risk factors may require reconsideration.