Hemodynamic, catecholamine, vasomotor and vascular responses: Determinants of myocardial ischemia during mental stress.

Aims: Mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. We aim to assess hemodynamic, neuro-hormonal, endothelial, vasomotor and vascular predictors of MSIMI.

Methods And Results: We subjected 660 patients with stable CAD to 99mTc sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging at rest, with mental (speech task) and with conventional (exercise/pharmacological) stress.