Treatment benefit in the enhanced external counterpulsation consortium

The present study utilized a cohort of 2,289 consecutive patients enrolled in the Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) Consortium to evaluate whe ther results of university studies showing EECP safety and effectiveness in treating angina can be generalized. EECP was found to be safe and well tol erated with a 4.0% rate of adverse experiences, Angina class improved in 74 % of patients with limiting angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society, CCS, f unctional class ii-IV), with patients most impaired at baseline demonstrati ng the greatest improvement (39.5% of patients in CCS III and IV improved 2 or more classes). Efficacy was independent of provider setting or experien ce, women responded as well as men, and although younger patients demonstra ted a greater likelihood of improvement, EECP was effective in patients ran ging from 19 to 97 years. Extending the benefit of EECP treatment to a wide r range of patients may be indicated based on these findings. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.