[Normal coronary angiography. Survival and functional status at 6 years]

Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss. 2000 Dec;93(12):1515-9.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Despite the development of non-invasive diagnostic techniques, the absence of significant coronary stenosis is observed in 10 to 30% of coronary angiographic studies. The authors report the survival and functional status at 6 years of 172 consecutive patients with symptoms of angina without significant angiographic coronary stenosis. The average age was 60.8 years with a sex ratio of 1.1 and chest pain as the indication for coronary angiography in over 90% of cases. The global mortality after an average of 75.6 months follow-up was 11%, lower in women (8.5%) than in men (13.3%) with an annual mortality of 16.3 per thousand. Sudden death was observed in 4 patients and a third of deaths was of cardiac origin. The persistence of symptoms was reported by 58% of patients, mainly atypical chest pain. Despite the result of coronary angiography, nearly half of the patients were followed up annually by a cardiologist, two thirds remained on anti-anginal therapy, 20% were treated by psychotropic agents and hospital admission to the cardiology department was required in 22% of cases during follow-up. None of the patients had myocardial infarction. Survival and myocardial function after normal coronary angiography therefore appear to be good in contrast with the functional status of these patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angina Pectoris / diagnostic imaging
  • Angina Pectoris / drug therapy
  • Angina Pectoris / pathology*
  • Coronary Angiography*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vasodilator Agents