What is the major difference between cardiac treadmill testing and claudication treadmill testing?

The major difference between cardiac treadmill testing and claudication treadmill testing lies in the speed variations during the tests. Cardiac treadmill testing is designed to assess the cardiovascular response to exercise, typically involving increasing speeds and inclines throughout the procedure to stress the heart's functioning. This progressive increase helps monitor the heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram changes, which are essential for diagnosing conditions like coronary artery disease.

In contrast, claudication treadmill testing focuses on assessing the patient's ability to walk and the symptoms of intermittent claudication related to peripheral artery disease. The speed of the treadmill is typically kept constant, allowing for the evaluation of specific symptoms and how long a patient can walk before experiencing pain or discomfort. Therefore, while both tests may utilize a treadmill, the manner in which speed is adjusted during cardiac testing is a significant differentiator.