Angina Often Affects Quality of Life

FRIDAY, Sept. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Many people with chronic angina experience frequent chest pain that affects their quality of life, a new study finds.

Angina, a tightness or discomfort in the chest caused by narrowing of a coronary artery, can lead to heart attacks.

Australian researchers surveyed more than 2,000 chronic angina patients and found that 29 percent of them experienced chest pain at least once a week, despite receiving treatments such as medications, balloon/stent procedures and bypass surgery.

"More than 60 percent of patients with chronic angina reported that their angina limited their enjoyment of life," study author John Beltrame, an associate professor at the University of Adelaide, said in a school news release.

"Although quality assurance programs of chronic angina patients examine how well weight, cholesterol and blood pressure are controlled, the one symptom that patients complain about -- chest pain -- has no defined benchmark," he said.

The results suggest that a new management strategy is needed to enhance angina treatment, to improve patients' quality of life. The study was published Sept. 14 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

"We know that with aggressive lifestyle modification and appropriate medical management, nearly 60 percent of patients with angina can be pain-free after one year," Professor Nigel Stocks, head of the University of Adelaide's Discipline of General Practice, said in the news release. "This study highlights the importance of GPs [general practitioners] closely monitoring their patients with chronic angina and encouraging them to report recurring chest pain."

More information

The American Heart Association has more about angina.