nifedipine gits: some action better than none in stable angina

1
Inpharma 1454 - 11 Sep 2004 Nifedipine GITS: some ACTION better than none in stable angina While the addition of nifedipine GITS * to conventional treatment for angina pectoris was not associated with an improvement in major cardiovascular event-free survival, it did reduce the need for coronary procedures and interventions for symptoms, according to a multinational team of researchers. 1 In the ACTION ** study, 7665 patients aged 35 years who were being treated for stable angina pectoris were randomised to receive additional treatment with oral nifedipine GITS starting at 30 mg/day and increasing to 60 mg/day (n = 3825) or placebo. There was a planned follow-up of 4.5–6 years. There was no significant between-group difference in the incidence of major cardiovascular event-free survival. However, there were significant reductions in the rate of new overt heart failure and the need for coronary angiography and bypass surgery in the group that received nifedipine, compared with the group that received placebo; the respective values were 0.46 versus 0.65, 5.46 versus 6.69 and 1.62 versus 2.06 per 100 patient-years. While the frequency of any death, cardiovascular event or procedure was significantly lower for the nifedipine recipients than the placebo recipients, there was no significant between-group difference with regard to the frequency of cardiovascular events alone. In addition, the group that received nifedipine had a significantly reduced occurrence of any vascular event. In an accompanying editorial, Dr Bruce Psaty from the University of Washington, Seattle, and Dr Curt Furberg from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, US, state that "ACTION provides support for the long-term treatment of the symptoms of angina in patients already on β blockers and nitrates". 2 * gastrointestinal therapeutic system ** A Coronary disease Trial Investigating Outcome with Nifedipine GITS † This study was funded by Bayer Healthcare AG, Germany. 1. Poole-Wilson PA, et al. Effect of long-acting nifedipine on mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in patients with stable angina requiring treatment (ACTION trial): randomised controlled trial. Lancet 364: 849-857, No. 9437, 4 Sep 2004. 2. Psaty BM, et al. Contemplating ACTION-long-acting nifedipine in stable angina. Lancet 364: 817-818, No. 9437, 4 Sep 2004. 800969874 1 Inpharma 11 Sep 2004 No. 1454 1173-8324/10/1454-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

Post on 08-Dec-2016

216 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Nifedipine GITS: some ACTION better than none in stable angina

Inpharma 1454 - 11 Sep 2004

Nifedipine GITS: some ACTIONbetter than none in stable anginaWhile the addition of nifedipine GITS* to conventional

treatment for angina pectoris was not associated with animprovement in major cardiovascular event-freesurvival, it did reduce the need for coronary proceduresand interventions for symptoms, according to amultinational team of researchers.1

In the ACTION** study, 7665 patients aged ≥ 35 yearswho were being treated for stable angina pectoris wererandomised to receive additional treatment with oralnifedipine GITS starting at 30 mg/day and increasing to60 mg/day (n = 3825) or placebo.† There was a plannedfollow-up of 4.5–6 years.

There was no significant between-group difference inthe incidence of major cardiovascular event-freesurvival. However, there were significant reductions inthe rate of new overt heart failure and the need forcoronary angiography and bypass surgery in the groupthat received nifedipine, compared with the group thatreceived placebo; the respective values were 0.46versus 0.65, 5.46 versus 6.69 and 1.62 versus 2.06 per100 patient-years. While the frequency of any death,cardiovascular event or procedure was significantlylower for the nifedipine recipients than the placeborecipients, there was no significant between-groupdifference with regard to the frequency of cardiovascularevents alone. In addition, the group that receivednifedipine had a significantly reduced occurrence of anyvascular event.

In an accompanying editorial, Dr Bruce Psaty from theUniversity of Washington, Seattle, and Dr Curt Furbergfrom the Wake Forest University School of Medicine,Winston-Salem, US, state that "ACTION providessupport for the long-term treatment of the symptoms ofangina in patients already on β blockers and nitrates".2

* gastrointestinal therapeutic system** A Coronary disease Trial Investigating Outcome with NifedipineGITS† This study was funded by Bayer Healthcare AG, Germany.

1. Poole-Wilson PA, et al. Effect of long-acting nifedipine on mortality andcardiovascular morbidity in patients with stable angina requiring treatment(ACTION trial): randomised controlled trial. Lancet 364: 849-857, No. 9437, 4Sep 2004.

2. Psaty BM, et al. Contemplating ACTION-long-acting nifedipine in stableangina. Lancet 364: 817-818, No. 9437, 4 Sep 2004.

800969874

1

Inpharma 11 Sep 2004 No. 14541173-8324/10/1454-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved