The Effectiveness of Trimetazidine Treatment in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris of Various Durations: Results from the CHOICE-2 Study.

Abstract

Trimetazidine (TMZ) has been shown to reduce angina symptoms and to increase exercise capacity in randomized clinical trials, but more extensive data would be useful to assess its effects in real-world clinical practice and in patients with different durations of disease. CHOICE-2 was a Russian, multicenter, 6-month, open-label, prospective observational study that assessed the effect of adding TMZ modified release 35mg bid to antianginal treatment in a real-world setting. The present analysis of CHOICE-2 results explored the effects of adding TMZ to background antianginal therapies with regard to the duration of stable angina. A total of 741 patients with known durations of disease were divided into four groups according to stable angina pectoris (AP) duration, ranging from less than 1year to more than 9years. Addition of TMZ led to a significant decrease in the frequency of angina attacks and in the use of short-acting nitrates in all groups. In patients with recently diagnosed angina (AP duration <1year), the average number of angina attacks per week decreased significantly from 3.75±4.63 to 0.67±1.51 and in those with advanced disease (AP duration >9years) from 5.63±5.24 to 1.32±2.07. Angina-free walking distance also improved significantly. Addition of TMZ also improved patient well-being. Results were achieved rapidly (within 2weeks), were maintained over 6months, and were obtained in all patient groups regardless of angina duration. TMZ added to other antianginal therapies proved to be effective for reducing angina attacks and short-acting nitrate use, increasing angina-free walking distance, and improving patient well-being in a real-life setting, irrespective of angina duration, including patients with recently diagnosed angina. This provides an opportunity for intensification of treatment early on in the disease process, with the aim of decreasing angina burden and improving patient quality of life. Servier. ISRCTN identifier ISRCTN65209863. Plain language summary available for this article.