Exercise-induced premature ventricular contractions (EIPVC) have been associated with higher mortality during longitudinal follow-up, but the association with coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been precisely demonstrated.

To study in a group (A) of patients the real prevalence of concomitant CAD in patients with EIPVC and cardiovascular risk factors. A control group of patients with positive exercise test (ET) will be used for comparison (group B).

All the patients (above 35-years-old) referred for ET at our institution were prospectively included. Patients with cardiovascular risk factors and without known CAD were divided into 2 groups: group A if EIPVC were present (either during exercise or during recovery), at least more than 10% over 30s of recording; group B if ET was considered positive. The presence of CAD was then confirmed in both groups by coronary angiography, and/or nuclear test, and/or cardiac MRI performed within 2months after ET realization.

From Nov 2020 to Nov 2021, 1020, ETs were performed. After exclusion (normal ETs=530; known CAD=310; age<35 yo=99; congenital heart disease=6; mitral valve prolapse=1), 23 patients with EIPVC were finally identified (male 53%, mean age 61.6±11years), and 33 in group B. CAD was confirmed in 3/23 (13%) patients in group A versus 14/33 (42%) in group B (P=0.019) (Fig. 1).

Either during effort or recovery (EIPVC) were not significantly associated with underlying concomitant CAD.