Use of exercise tests in primary care: importance for referral decisions and possible bias in the decision process; a prospective observational study

Conclusions: Exercise tests are important for selecting patients for referral to cardiologic care. Interactions related to gender and socioeconomic status affected referral rates. In patients with positive exercise tests, referral rates decreased with age. An increased awareness of possible bias regarding age, gender, and socioeconomic status, which may influence medical decisions, is therefore necessary.
Source: BMC Family Practice - Category: Primary Care Authors: Source Type: research