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The accuracy of myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging in the evaluation of coronary artery disease in women and men
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compare sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of myocardial perfusion SPECT for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women and men.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: 588 patients (455 males and 133 females, 273 after a previous myocardial infarction) underwent stress myocardial perfusion SPECT. The accuracy of myocardial perfusion SPECT was proved by coronary angiography (stenosis > 50% was considered as a CAD).
RESULTS: The sensitivity of SPECT was slightly higher, but statistically not significant, in men than in women (94% versus 91%, p > 0.05). The specificity was higher in women than in men (93% versus 82%), but this difference was not statistically significant either (p > 0.05). The accuracy of SPECT was the same for both sexes (92%). In angiographically verified group of patients the selection bias was obvious - patients with CAD dominated (74%) and the fraction of patients with CAD in men's group (83%) was significantly higher than in women's group (50%), p < 0.05.
CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was revealed in the accuracy of myocardial perfusion SPECT in men and women. Our results are in accordance with the prevailing opinion in literature that discovered differences in sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy are usually not statistically significant or that they can be explained by the selection bias of patients in angiographically verified groups (significantly higher fraction of patients with CAD in men's group).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compare sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of myocardial perfusion SPECT for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women and men.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: 588 patients (455 males and 133 females, 273 after a previous myocardial infarction) underwent stress myocardial perfusion SPECT. The accuracy of myocardial perfusion SPECT was proved by coronary angiography (stenosis > 50% was considered as a CAD).
RESULTS: The sensitivity of SPECT was slightly higher, but statistically not significant, in men than in women (94% versus 91%, p > 0.05). The specificity was higher in women than in men (93% versus 82%), but this difference was not statistically significant either (p > 0.05). The accuracy of SPECT was the same for both sexes (92%). In angiographically verified group of patients the selection bias was obvious - patients with CAD dominated (74%) and the fraction of patients with CAD in men's group (83%) was significantly higher than in women's group (50%), p < 0.05.
CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was revealed in the accuracy of myocardial perfusion SPECT in men and women. Our results are in accordance with the prevailing opinion in literature that discovered differences in sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy are usually not statistically significant or that they can be explained by the selection bias of patients in angiographically verified groups (significantly higher fraction of patients with CAD in men's group).
Keywords
SPECT; myocardial perfusion; coronary artery disease; men and women
About this articleTitle
The accuracy of myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging in the evaluation of coronary artery disease in women and men
Journal
Issue
Pages
69-72
Published online
2001-07-23
Page views
465
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1176
Bibliographic record
Nucl. Med. Rev 2001;4(2):69-72.
Keywords
SPECT
myocardial perfusion
coronary artery disease
men and women
Authors
Milan Kaminek
Miroslav Myslivecek
Vaclav Huśak
Pavel Koranda
Marcela Śkvarilova
Jiri Ostransky
Otto Lang
