The incidence of multivessel disease(i.e., two-to three vessel disease or left main disease) in patients with ST depression ≥2.0mm was 72% and that in those with ST depression of 1.0-1.9mm was 45%. In patients with downsloping ST depression, the incidence of multivessel disease was significantly higher than that of one vessel disease(86% vs 14%, p<0.001). But both incidences of one vessel disease and multivessel disease were similar in patients with flat and slowly upsloping ST depression. More than two thirds of patients with ischemic ST depression appearing in the first 6 minutes of exercise or those lasting past 7 minutes in recovery were associated with multivessel disease.

It is concluded that attention to depth, type, appearance time and duration of ST depression during exercise test is particularly helpful in detecting patients with advanced coronary disease.