Panel Says No EKGs for Low-Risk Heart Disease Patients

On Monday, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against the use of electrocardiograms in patients with a low risk for developing heart disease. According to the panel, there is not enough evidence to show that the test provides adequate data to determine a patient's risks, compared with traditional factors, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The recommendation applies only to patients who are not experiencing any symptoms of heart problems, such as pain or shortness of breath.

• "U.S. Panel Says EKGs Are Often Unneeded" (Corbett Dooren, Wall Street Journal, 7/30).
• "Panel Recommends Against ECG Tests for Heart Disease" (Pittman, Reuters, 7/30).