First-in-Asia test offers faster diagnosis of heart conditions in active people

National Heart Centre's exCMR test scans the heart as patient exercises

- Gabrielle Andres

Active individuals will be able to get a faster diagnosis of potentially life-threatening or serious heart conditions with an imaging test introduced by the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS), a first in Asia.

Exercise Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (ExCMR) imaging combines magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with real-time exercise to detect underlying heart conditions, distinguishing them from normal changes brought about by exercise, in just one session.

An MRI is a diagnostic test that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the body's internal structures, including organs.

Introduced by NHCS as a research project in 2017, EXCMR involves a specially designed stationary bike that is attached to an MRI scanner.

It costs about $200 more than a conventional MRI test for subsidised patients and about $500 more for private patients, said NHCS.

During the test on the stationary bike, patients pedal at set intervals while doctors observe how the heart performs during exercise, capturing detailed images of the heart's structure, function and blood flow, NHCS said in a statement on Aug 27.

"Unlike conventional tests that often require weeks or even months of several separate assessments, ExCMR provides fast and accurate results in a single visit," it said.

Each ExCMR session will take about 15 to 20 minutes longer than a conventional MRI, which takes about an hour to complete.