Tag Archives: chronic stable angina

Introduction Chronic refractory angina is defined as coronary insufficiency in the presence of coronary artery disease with clinically established reversible myocardial ischaemia that cannot be controlled by a combination of medical therapy, angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery (CABG).1 Symptom duration should exceed three months. It carries a small increased risk of mortality,2 a significant risk of morbidity3 and accounts for more than 1% of the UK’s total health service budget.4 Triggers for angina include behavioural factors, such as activity and stress. Common misconceptions (e.g. that angina may precipitate myocardial infarction) m

Introduction Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the major cause of death throughout European and other developed countries. While death rates have been consistently falling, rates in the UK remain relatively high compared to some Western European countries. The commonest clinical presentation of CHD is angina pectoris. Angina incidence rates generally increase with age and are highest in the 65−74 years age group in both men and women. The prevalence of angina is estimated to be 5% in men and 4% in women in the UK, giving a total of nearly 2.1 million (>1.2 million <75 years of age) with the condition.1 It is therefore a common dise