Atenolol versus the fixed combination of atenolol and nifedipine in stable angina pectoris

One hundred and fourteen patients (94 male) with chronic stableangina who had a positive exercise test after 4 weeks on atenololalone were randomized to receive either atenolol alone or thefixed combination of atenolol and nifedipine slow release formulationfor 4 weeks in a double-blind cross-over manner. Exercise stresstesting (Bruce protocol) at the end of each treatment perioddemonstrated that the time to the onset of pain and occurrenceof 1 mm ST segment depression improved significantly (P <0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively) whilst on the fixed combinationcompared to atenolol alone. In order to achieve sufficient sensitivityin the analysis of the exercise times, novel statistical methodsbased on survival analysis were used. Maximum ST segment depressionwas 0.13 mm less (p < 0.04) while on the fixed combination.The incidence of withdrawals and adverse effects was similaron both treatments.