One year perspective on COURAGE.
Doctor: "Ma'am you need an angioplasty".


METHODS
"Doctor, the newspaper says that medicine is as good as angioplasty". Doctor: "Ma'am you're having a heart attack". The COURAGE trial was published 1 year ago and received attention from the media, patients, and other medical specialties concerning the value of percutaneous coronary intervention. Now, 1 year later there has been time to reflect on COURAGE, and some newer data have emerged. The purpose of this article is to put into perspective the issues surrounding the COURAGE trial and suggest different approaches for future trials of stable coronary artery disease.
Tommaso
Carl L
CL
Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Rush North Shore Medical Center, Rush University Medical School, Skokie, Illinois.
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents