Medical management of chronic ischemic heart disease

PREVIEW

According to current estimates, more than 12 million people in the United States have coronary artery disease (CAD). Slightly less than half experience angina pectoris, and more than 7 million have had a myocardial infarction.¹ In 2000, the economic cost of CAD in this country totaled $118 billion.¹ Given the aging of the population and the improved therapy for several other disorders, a true epidemic looms on the horizon. In this article, Dr Bales examines the long-term medical treatment of patients with known ischemic heart disease, focusing on therapies proven to alter morbidity and mortality, relieve symptoms, and modify risk factors.