CHARACTERISTICS OF A CONTEMPORARY POPULATION WITH ANGINA-PECTORIS

To characterize a contemporary, nonhospitalized population with angina pectoris, data were obtained from a geographically diverse cohort of 5,125 outpatients with chronic stable angina cared for by 1,266 primar y care physicians between September and November of 1990. Diagnosis wa s based on history supported by evidence for coronary artery disease ( coronary angiography, old myocardial infarction, or an abnormal stress test, either alone or in combination). The mean age of the patients w as 69 years and 53% were women. Seventy percent had >1 associated illn ess and 64% took >1 cardiovascular drug. Median angina frequency was a pproximately 2 episodes/week and increased angina frequency (p <0.0001 ) was associated with decreased overall feeling of well-being. Althoug h effort angina was present in 90% of patients, 47% also had rest angi na and 35% had mental stress-evoked angina. Female gender (relative ri sk [RR] 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02 to 1.16), concomitant illness (RR 1.17; CI 1.09 to 1.25), and pharmacotherapy (RR 1.14; CI 1 .07 to 1.22) were associated with excess risk for rest angina. Younger age (RR 1.30; CI 1.20 to 1.41), female gender (RR 1.16; CI 1.07 to 1. 26), concomitant illness (RR 1.13; CI 1.03 to 1.24), and pharmacothera py (RR 1.28; GI 1.15 to 1.93) were associated with excess risk for men tal stress angina. These data suggest that contemporary outpatients wi th angina are frequently women and elderly patients with high rates of associated illness, rest, and mental stress-related angina.