What does the sensitivity of a cardiac stress test refer to?

The sensitivity of a cardiac stress test refers to the test's ability to correctly identify individuals who have a particular condition, such as coronary artery disease. In this context, it particularly emphasizes the proportion of true positives among all individuals who actually have the condition being tested for. Therefore, when we discuss clients with known abnormalities who yield a positive test result, we are highlighting the test's effectiveness in detecting existing conditions accurately.

A high sensitivity means that a large number of clients with the condition will indeed test positive, thereby affirmatively demonstrating the test's utility in diagnosing individuals who are likely to benefit from further evaluation or intervention. This ability to accurately distinguish those with the condition is essential for effective clinical decision-making, making sensitivity a key performance metric for diagnostic tests in cardiology.