Duke Treadmill Score Calculator



The patient is in the low risk group

The Duke Treadmill score calculator evaluates the risk chances for ischemia and infarction in the heart. This calculator is dependent on the treadmill exercise test. Most physicians use this calculator to know the prognosis and treatment plan for patients with suspected coronary artery disease. In addition, this calculator also depends on the ST segment changes from the normal and the angina severity during exercise.

This article explains detailed information regarding coronary artery disease tests and associated factors. In addition, it will also help us with the usage and details of the Duke Treadmill score calculator in an understandable manner. Let us have a look at the main sections to clear concepts related to the Duke Treadmill score calculator.

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease is the most common disease affecting a lot of the population in the United States. The other names are coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease. The first appearing sign of this disease is myocardial infarction or heart attack. Besides this, there are several other symptoms of coronary artery disease that appear in many patients.

Etiology

Coronary artery disease mostly occurs due to plaque buildup in the inner surfaces of the arteries. The coronary artery is the main arterial supply to the heart and other different parts of the body. Plaque mainly deposits due to increased cholesterol and fatty acid levels. These deposits narrow the coronary artery, limiting the blood supply or blocking the artery completely.

What are the signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease?

There are several other signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease. These are as follows:

  • Discomfort and pain in the chest
  • Angina
  • Heart attack causing nausea, weakness, cold sweating, or shortness of breath)
  • Heart failure, including the symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, swelling in the legs, and irregular but rapid heartbeat)

What are the risk factors associated with coronary artery disease?

There are multiple risk factors associated with coronary artery disease. These are as follows:

  • Obesity
  • Physical inactivity
  • Poor diet
  • Smoking
  • Familial history of coronary artery disease

If the patient is at increased risk of heart disease or already has the symptoms, your doctor may suggest multiple diagnostic tests for coronary artery disease. One of the most common diagnostic tests for coronary artery disease is the exercise stress test. The Duke Treadmill score calculator is the exercise stress test to evaluate ischemia or myocardial infarction.

Duke Treadmill Score Calculator

The Duke Treadmill score calculator is a measuring index following the treadmill exercise test (according to the standard Bruce protocol), exercise-induced angina, and ST segment changes (elevation or depression). This Duke Treadmill score calculator provides prognostic and diagnostic details to evaluate patients with suspected coronary artery disease. The Duke Treadmill score ranges from -25 (high limit) to +15 (lower point).

What is the Duke score equation formula followed in the calculator?

The Duke Treadmill score calculator follows a common equation to assess patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

Duke score = Exercise 5 * ST segment deviation 4 * treadmill angina index

  • Exercise in the equation indicates the maximum duration represented in minutes.
  • ST segment deviation indicates the maximum overall ST segment changes in millimeters. This factor expresses the maximum ST changes in any lead except lead aVR.
  • The treadmill angina index can be measured as follows:
  • No pain in chest or angina – 0
  • Typical exercise-induced angina (angina pain limited during the exercise period) – 1
  • Exercise stopped due to angina pain – 2

How can we interpret Duke Treadmill score calculator findings?

The Duke Treadmill score calculator provides a quantitative assessment to divide the patients into three different categories. These categories are based on the normal versus abnormal findings of the Duke Treadmill score. These include:

  • Low-risk patients
  • Intermediate risk patients
  • High-risk patients
Duke Treadmill score:Risk group:Survival chances up to the next 4 years:
5 or greater than 5:Low99% chances to survive
-10 to +4Medium95% chances to survive
Less than -10High79% chances to survive

How to use the Duke Treadmill score calculator practically?

The Duke Treadmill score calculator is a practical tool to use in clinical practice. Let us take an example to explain the practical use of the Duke Treadmill score calculator.

Here is a patient, Jacqueline, undergoing a Duke Treadmill exercise test. She continues to exercise for about 7 minutes without experiencing any angina pain or discomfort. Her maximum net ST segment changes are about 0.7mm. Put all these values in the Duke Treadmill score equation to find out the Duke score.

Duke score = exercise 5 * ST segment deviation 4 * treadmill angina index

Duke score = 7 minutes – 5*0.7 – 4*0

Duke score = 7 – 3.5

Duke score = 3.5

According to the Duke Treadmill score interpretation, Jacqueline lies in the medium-risk patients.

Conclusion

The Duke Treadmill score calculator helps to diagnose and assess the prognosis of coronary artery disease. This calcium is based on the ECG test findings, presence, and angina severity during the exercise. It is a quantitative score calculator that classifies the patients into three categories depending on the Duke Treadmill score. These categories are low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk patients. In addition, this Duke score also predicts the 4-year mortality rate depending on the exercise stress test.

Moreover, the Duke Treadmill score calculator is for patients with coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is a common heart-associated disease with an appearing symptom of a heart attack. A heart attack is a medical emergency and is treated immediately. To avoid such circumstances, physicians consider the use of the Duke Treadmill score calculator to evaluate the prognosis in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the optimum Duke Treadmill score for a suspected coronary artery disease patient?

The low-risk patients (Duke Treadmill score of 5 or greater than 5) have a survival rate of about 99% up to 4 years. It is an optimum level for patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

What is the normal Treadmill test?

A normal treadmill test denotes a patient’s heart rate and blood pressure increases normally compared to the graded exercise. There should not be any arrhythmic changes or ECG changes indicating ischemia during the treadmill exercise test.

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