Can pre-treatment with beta-agonists reduce stress test time and the use of atropine in dobutamine stress testing?

Cardiology. 2001;95(3):156-60. doi: 10.1159/000047363.

Abstract

Aim: To determine whether the use of inhaled beta-agonists decreases the duration of dobutamine stress testing (DAS), reduces the amount of dobutamine infused and decreases the use of atropine.

Methods: 34 patients on beta-agonists (group A) (mean age 65 +/- 8 years) and 32 patients not on beta-agonists or beta-blockers (group B) (mean age 65 +/- 10 years) undergoing DAS with SPECT were enrolled.

Results: The time of infusion of dobutamine in group A was 6.41 +/- 1.58 min and in group B was 9.77 +/- 3.60 min (p < 0.001). The amount of dobutamine infused was 10.64 +/- 5 mg in group A and 19.20 +/- 8 mg in group B (p < 0.001). In group A, 2 of 34 patients and 18 of 32 patients in group B needed atropine to reach peak HR (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Patients on short acting beta-agonists require smaller amounts of dobutamine with a shorter infusion time during DAS, and lesser use of side-effect prone atropine.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists*
  • Aged
  • Albuterol*
  • Atropine*
  • Coronary Disease / diagnosis*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / diagnosis
  • Dobutamine*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electrocardiography / drug effects
  • Exercise Test / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis
  • Heart Rate / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Premedication*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Dobutamine
  • Atropine
  • Albuterol