Results of a 5-year prospective observation of ischemic heart disease patients with stable stenocardia due to stenosing coronary arteriosclerosis

A prospective five-year study and medicinal treatment were conducted in 317 coronary patients with stable angina in the absence of any signs of heart failure, and stenosing coronary arterial atherosclerosis as evidenced by selective coronary angiography. Total mortality was 2.8%, and the incidence of documented non-fatal myocardial infarction was 3.8% per year. The mortality was mostly dependent on the severity of angina's functional class and the number of affected major coronary arteries (narrowed by more than 70%). A group of patients with unfavorable prognosis was identified (functional class III to IV, low physical stress tolerance, the involvement of two or three major coronary arteries). The results demonstrate the efficiency of long-term medication in coronary patients with stable angina due to stenosing coronary atherosclerosis.