Aim: To study efficacy of trimetazidine including action on quality of life in patients over 65 years of age with stable angina pectoris.
Material: Seventy two patients (75% men, age 65-80 years) with stable class II-III angina not completely controlled by baseline conventional combined antianginal therapy (nitrates, beta-blockers, and calcium antagonists).
Methods: Trimetazidine (60 mg/day) was added to baseline therapy for 12 weeks. Clinical evaluation before and after trimetazidine included registration of symptoms, analysis of parameters of treadmill exercise tests (Bruce protocol) including characteristics of post test recovery and assessment of quality of life (Seattle Angina Questionnaire).
Results: Sixty nine patients concluded the protocol. The use of trimetazidine was associated with significant (p<0.0001) improvement of quality of life, significant prolongation of exercise time before 1 mm ST depression (p<0.0005), exercise time before appearance of angina (p<0.0001), time before angina cessation after end of exercise (p<0.01), significant reduction of number of anginal attacks (p<0.01), and diminishment of consumption of short acting nitrates (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Addition of trimetazidine to conventional antianginal therapy in elderly patients was associated with improved quality of life, increased exercise tolerance and decreased clinical signs of stable angina.