Hyperventilation testing in the diagnosis of vasospastic angina: A clinical review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

BackgroundGiven the limited access to invasive vasospastic reactivity testing in Western Countries, there is a need to further develop alternative non‐invasive diagnostic methods for vasospastic angina (VSA). Hyperventilation testing (HVT) is defined as a class IIa recommendation to diagnose VSA by the Japanese Society of Cardiology.MethodsIn this systematic review and meta‐analysis reported according to the PRISMA statement, we review the mechanisms, methods, modalities and diagnostic accuracy of non‐invasive HVT for the diagnostic of VSA.ResultsA total of 106 articles published between 1980 and 2022 about VSA and HVT were included in the systematic review, among which 16 were included in the meta‐analysis for diagnostic accuracy. Twelve electrocardiogram‐HVT studies including 804 patients showed a pooled sensitivity of 54% (95% confidence intervals [CI]; 30%–76%) and a pooled specificity of 99% (95% CI; 88%–100%). Four transthoracic echocardiography‐HVT studies including 197 patients revealed a pooled sensitivity of 90% (95% CI; 82%–94%) and a pooled specificity of 98% (95% CI; 86%–100%). Six myocardial perfusion imaging‐HVT studies including 112 patients yielded a pooled sensitivity of 95% (95% CI; 63%–100%) and a pooled specificity of 78% (95% CI; 19%–98%). Non‐invasive HVT resulted in a low rate of adverse events, ventricular arrhythmias being the most frequently reported, and were resolved with the administration of nitroglycerin.ConclusionsNon‐invasive HVT offers a safe alternative with high diagnostic accuracy to diagnose VSA in patients with otherwise undiagnosed causes of chest pain.