Management of Refractory Angina Pectoris

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Refractory angina (RA) is increasingly prevalent due to improved survival from coronary artery disease (CAD) and an aging population.
• RA patients suffer from chronic, uncontrolled angina-type pain despite optimal treatments, significantly impairing quality of life.
• These patients exhibit high healthcare service utilization, highlighting unmet clinical needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing therapies for refractory angina (RA).
• To discuss novel treatment strategies for RA management.
• To emphasize the multifactorial needs of RA patients and the role of specialist units.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current and emerging therapies for refractory angina.
• Analysis of clinical challenges and patient outcomes in RA.
• Discussion of multidisciplinary care models for RA.

Main Results:

• Optimal pharmacological, interventional, and surgical therapies are often insufficient for RA symptom control.
• RA significantly impacts patient quality of life, despite comparable mortality rates to other CAD cohorts.
• Multidisciplinary specialist units are recognized as the optimal setting for managing RA patients.

Conclusions:

• Refractory angina presents a significant clinical challenge requiring comprehensive management strategies.
• Novel therapeutic approaches hold promise for improving outcomes in RA patients.
• Addressing the multifactorial needs of RA patients through specialized care is crucial.