JAMA: 2008-10-15, Vol. 300, No. 15, Author in the Room™ Audio Interview

Interview with Rita Redberg, MD, MSc, author of Stress Testing to Document Ischemia Prior to Elective PCI. Summary Points: 1. A majority (55.5% ) of Medicare patients with stable coronary artery disease who underwent an elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) did not have a recommended stress test performed to document ischemia. 2. The rate of stress testing before elective PCI shows significant geographic variation, from a low of 22% in Fresno, CA to a high of 71% in Rochester, MN. 3. Patient characteristics (female sex, age of 85 years or older, and having co-existing illnesses) and physician characteristics (physicians who performed a higher volume of PCI procedures) were associated with lower rates of stress testing.