The Prevalence of Weekly Angina Among Patients With Chronic Stable Angina in Primary Care Practices

Abstract

Almost 1 in 3 patients with stable angina attending primary care practices had angina at least once a week, which was associated with worse quality of life. Moreover, weekly (> or =1) angina varied considerably across clinics, possibly reflecting variability in the identification and management of angina. The potential role of an angina performance measure to improve patients' outcomes, including symptom control, warrants further consideration.

Epidemiology of Coronary Artery Disease

“…Importantly, this study reported that gender or the presence of heart failure or peripheral arterial disease, were independent clinical determinants of ongoing weekly angina in patients with chronic stable angina (Beltrame et al, 2009 …”

“…One of these was the Coronary Artery Disease in gENeral practiCE (CADENCE) study (Beltrame et al, 2009), which recruited 2,031 chronic stable angina patients from general practices across Australia. The sample was representative of this population based upon geographic location.…”

“…Co-existing heart failure and/or peripheral arterial disease have been shown to be important determinants of on-going angina symptoms in patients with chronic stable angina (Beltrame et al, 2009). This potentially reflects the more extensive disease in these patients.…”

“…The CADENCE study not only demonstrated that many patients with chronic stable angina have frequent ongoing symptoms but also that frequent angina is associated with reduced physical limitations and a poorer quality of life (Beltrame et al, 2009). Although the CADENCE study utilised a threshold of angina of at least once week, the relationship is a continuum as shown in Figure 12.…”

“…SAQ = Seattle Angina Questionnaire. Adapted from (Beltrame et al, 2009). Copyright gained 30/09/2011.…”