title: [Efficacy of diltiazem in elderly patients with stable effort angina].
abstract: The antianginal effects of 360 mg/day of diltiazem were evaluated, using intrapatient comparisons, in a double/blind, randomized, placebo/controlled trial in 24 young patients (50 +/- 7 years) and in 16 elderly patients (67 +/- 3 years) with stable effort angina. All patients had angiographic documentation of significant coronary artery disease. An open-labelled, randomized, crossover design was employed. For 1 week prior to beginning the study, the patient was on no medication except sublingual nitrates. The study consisted of an initial 2-week single-blind placebo run-in period followed by a 4-week randomized double-blind crossover between diltiazem, 120 mg t.i.d., and placebo. A diary of chest pain and nitroglycerin usage was kept during this period and run-in. Exercise tests were carried out during the run-in period (2 tests) and at the end of the 4-week treatment. After diltiazem 12 of the 24 young patients stopped the exercise test because of angina. A similar number (9/16) of elderly patients stopped the exercise test because of angina. During diltiazem treatment, weekly angina frequency was significantly reduced in the young patients (1.25 +/- 0.67 vs 3.87 +/- 1.19-run-in, 4.08 +/- 1.24-placebo; p less than 0.01) and in the elderly patients (0.87 +/- 0.71 vs 4.06 +/- 1.48-run-in, 4.12 +/- 1.5-placebo; p less than 0.01). Weekly TNT consumption significantly decreased in both groups of patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Medicina Interna, II Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia di Napoll.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Acanfora
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Caprio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Obrizzo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lirato
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vigorito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Odierna
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cicatiello
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rengo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D004110:Diltiazem
vernacular_title: Efficacia del diltiazem in pazienti anziani con angina stabile da sforzo.