Value of cardiac function tests in industry.

Abstract

Since the diagnosis of heart disease and the evaluation of cardiac function cannot always be made by the routine clinical methods, dependable functional tests of the heart are definitely necessary. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the country today. This is, of course, related to the increasing numbers of aged in our population. In modern industrial plants especially, therefore, is the need for accurate diagnostic and functional tests of the heart now most apparent—including tests of laborers, white collar workers, and executives. The continuing partial disability of workingmen with angina pectoris due to coronary disease, chronic congestive heart failure, or even cardiac neurosis is much more important than is the occasional dramatic attack of acute coronary occlusion or insufficiency among apparently healthy airplane pilots while in flight. From the standpoint of the nation's needs, the physician in industry must assume the responsibility for ferreting out previously undetected cardiac disease from among the employees or executives of his concern. Executives, especially, are generally considered to be likely