Breath test for Coronary Artery Disease

"SPIROCOR is a new noninvasive test for coronary artery disease. It uses pulse oximetry to measure fingertip blood flow in response to paced breathing at a rate of 6 breaths per minute for 70 seconds. From these data the Respiratory Stress Response (RSR) is calculated as a measure of coronary artery disease. Results from a study of the test are published in this month's American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Patients with significant CAD had a lower RSR compared to patients without, with the test having a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 70%. Multivariate analysis with conventional risk factors showed RSR to be an independent marker of significant CAD. A study comparing the technique with stress ECG is currently ongoing"