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Heart study shows many suffer Poor Quality
of Life
Newswise — The world’s largest quality of
life study of chronic angina patients has
revealed that almost one in three experience
frequent chest pain, which affects their
daily life.
The collaborative project between the
University of Adelaide and Servier Australia
surveyed more than 2000 chronic angina
patients attending general practice clinics
throughout Australia and has been published
today in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Lead author Associate Professor John
Beltrame says the study showed that 29% of
patients experienced angina chest pain at
least once a week, despite contemporary
treatments which include medications,
balloon/stent treatments and bypass surgery.
Angina is a tightness in the chest that
typically occurs with exertion and is due to
a narrowing of a coronary artery. It can
lead to heart attacks.
“More than 60% of patients with chronic
angina reported that their angina limited
their enjoyment of life,” Associate
Professor Beltrame says.
“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 says the findings show a new management
strategy is required to optimise the
treatment of angina and improve the quality
of life for these patients.
“This study provides the foundations for
establishing such guidelines, allowing
closer monitoring of angina control,”
Associate Professor Beltrame says.
Associate Professor Beltrame is also a
Consultant Cardiologist with the Queen
Elizabeth Hospital and Lyell McEwin Hospital
and a National Heart Foundation of Australia
Research Fellow.
The Head of the University of Adelaide’s
Discipline of General Practice, Professor
Nigel Stocks, says the study’s findings
present a lot of challenges for general
practitioners.
“We know that with aggressive lifestyle
modification and appropriate medical
management, nearly 60% of patients with
angina can be pain free after one year. This
study highlights the importance of GPs
closely monitoring their patients with
chronic angina and encouraging them to
report recurring chest pain,” he says.
The study was unconditionally funded by
Servier Australia, a subsidiary of the
leading French research-based pharmaceutical
entity, specialising in ethical
pharmaceuticals.
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