A new cardiovascular signal database for assessing methods for analysis of ischemic heart disease

Reports the preliminary experiences in the development of a new database of cardiovascular signals (SIGMA) from patients, admitted to the coronary care unit for suspected ischemic heart disease, undergoing exercise ECG test, diagnostic echo and/or nuclear imaging procedures associated with effort or pharmacological tests of myocardial ischemia, and ambulatory ECG monitoring. During stress testing, the signals (EGG as well as arterial blood pressure and respiration, non-invasively measured) are monitored using exercise equipment, and 2D-echocardiography or nuclear imaging is used to confirm ECG manifestations of myocardial ischemia. Significant echo and/or nuclear images at baseline and during ischemia as well as coronary angiography representative frames are also stored in the database, which is planned to include 50 cases archived on CD media.