Treatment of angina pectoris: associations with symptom severity

Objective: To evaluate whether the frequency of anginal attacks in medically treated patients with stable angina is related to the intensity of anti-anginal treatment, the clinical history and coronary anatomy. Methods: Analysis of baseline data from the A Coronary disease Trial Investigating Outcome with Nifedipine GITS (ACTION) study, an ongoing placebo-controlled trial in 7669 patients with stable angina pectoris who require anti-anginal treatment. Results: Prior to randomisation, 8% of 7669 patients had no anginal attacks, 63% had occasional, 22% had regular, 4% had frequent and 3% had daily attacks. Men (79% of all patients) and patients with a history of MI (51%) had less frequent anginal attacks ( P