title: Changing patterns in drug therapy for ischemic heart disease.
abstract: To determine the possible influence of studies on beta-blocker therapy following myocardial infarction and the introduction of calcium-channel blockers on the prescribing habits of physicians in a large urban centre, the drug therapy received by 100 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) (50 with myocardial infarction and 50 with unstable angina) admitted to a university teaching hospital in 1980 was compared with that received by another such group of 100 patients admitted in 1983-84. The proportion of patients with myocardial infarction receiving drug therapy was significantly higher in 1983-84, at the time of both admission (p less than 0.01) and discharge (p less than 0.001). Much of the increase was due to greater use of beta-blockers. Of the 50 patients with unstable angina in 1983-84, 20 were taking calcium-channel blockers when admitted, and 29 were taking them when discharged. In both 1980 and 1983-84 unstable angina was treated more vigorously than myocardial infarction. The results suggest that physicians have developed a more aggressive approach to drug therapy for IHD since the publication of the beta-blocker studies and the introduction of calcium-channel blockers.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers