The authors evaluated after 4-year interval the results of coronarographic and spiroergometric examination after a work load on a bicycle ergometer up to the limiting work syndrome in 51 all patients with the aim to reveal "risk factors" of sudden death in CHD patients. The following parameters were recorded: age, duration of treatment number of cigarettes smoked, systolic blood pressure at rest and the daily dose of the most frequently used drugs. After the work load the limiting values of pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, oxygen consumption, blood lactate level and the work ECG were evaluated. In the group of 7 sudden deaths of CHD patients the authors found statistically significant (p less than 0.001) a lower mean limiting value of oxygen consumption/kg and a deeper (p less than 0.0001) mean depression of the S-T segment in the work ECG when compared with 35 CHD patients surviving for 4 years. Both indicators are considered the main "risk factors" for sudden death.

Keywords: Adult; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Disease /diagnosis/; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Electrocardiography; Exercise Test; Humans; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Spirometry