[Treatment of chronic stable angina: follow-up study with nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system. SENIOR Study Group].
OBJECTIVE: To gather information about efficacy and tolerability of nifedipine GITS in patients with stable angina, and its impact on the patient quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 1076 patients of both sexes (63.5 +/- 12.8 year old) with stable angina (classes I to III of the CCVS) and evidence of coronary disease (43.3% previous myocardial infarction) were included. The treatment with nifedipine GITS 30-60 mg/day (monotherapy or combination) lasted for 6 months. The study variables were: weekly rate of anginal attacks, short-acting nitrate consumption, changes in the antianginal drug treatment, tolerability, and changes in the questionnaire score concerning the quality of life. RESULTS: A decrease in the number of the anginal attacks and in the short-acting nitrates consumption by 80.7% and 83.3%, respectively (both, p = 0.001), was found. Furthermore, the proportion of patients experiencing anginal attacks the week before the assessment visit fell from 71.7% to 10.9% (p < 0.001). At the end of the study, a remarkable decrease in the use of other antianginal medications was seen. Side effects were reported by 10.9% of the patients, 2.7% of which were withdrawn from the study for this reason. A favourable change in the patient quality of life was also noted. CONCLUSION: In patients with stable angina, nifedipine GITS is an effective, safe and well tolerated drug that remarkably enhances the patient quality of life.