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Article: Heart Test May Give Bad Data For Blacks
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- June 29, 1992
CopyrightCopyright 1992 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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A test commonly used to detect thickened heart walls, a risk
factor for heart disease, is less accurate in African Americans than
in whites, according to a study conducted at eight clinics in New
York City.
Incorrectly diagnosed patients may be getting unnecessary
medication for high blood pressure, subjecting them to side effects
such as lethargy, impotence and increased cholesterol levels,
researchers said.
The findings suggest that the test, called an electrocardiogram,
should be used with caution, and findings of thickened heart walls
should be confirmed using a newer test called an echocardiogram,
researchers said.
They reported the results in the Journal of the American Medical ...