Tests | Number of tests performed | Diagnostic effectiveness (tests/diagnosis) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | January 2000 | p Value | 1998 | January 2000 | p Value | |
EEG, electroencephalography; ELR, external loop recorder; ILR, implantable loop recorder; ND, non-diagnostic. | ||||||
Patients | 660 | 421 | ||||
History and examination | 660 (100%) | 421 (100%) | NS | 2.68 | 2.5 | NS |
Holter monitoring | 226 (34%) | 350 (83%) | <0.001 | 9.8 | 18.4 | 0.48 |
ELR | 26 (3%) | 40 (10%) | <0.001 | 2.6 | 20 | <0.001 |
ILR | 0 | 103 (25%) | 0 | 3.5 | ||
Brain imaging | 87 (13%) | 20 (5%) | <0.001 | 87 | ND | NS |
Blood tests | 1058 (160%) | 733 (174%) | NS | 118 | 183 | NS |
ECG | 881 (133%) | 547 (130%) | NS | 147 | 547 | NS |
Echocardiography | 64 (10%) | 62 (15%) | 0.012 | 64 | 10 | 0.05 |
Tilt table test | 24 (4%) | 214 (51%) | <0.001 | 2.67 | 2.14 | NS |
Chest radiography | 193 (29%) | 206 (49%) | <0.001 | ND | ND | |
EEG | 26 (4%) | 11 (3%) | NS | ND | ND | |
Carotid Doppler study | 10 (2%) | 14 (3%) | NS | ND | ND |