Stable angina

Background

Clinical Features

Classes (Canadian Cardiovascular Society Classification)[1]

Classification Symptoms Limitation of Ordinary Activities
Grade I With prolonged exertion None
Grade II Walking >2 blocks or climbing >1 flight of stairs Slight
Grade III Walking <2 blocks Marked
Grade IV With minimal activity or at rest Cannot do any without symptoms

Risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome

Clinical factors that increase likelihood of ACS/AMI:[2][3]

  • Chest pain radiating to both arms > R arm > L arm
  • Chest pain associated with diaphoresis
  • Chest pain associated with nausea OR vomiting
  • Chest pain with exertion that is improved with rest

Clinical factors that decrease likelihood of ACS/AMI:[4]

  • Pleuritic chest pain
  • Positional chest pain
  • Sharp, stabbing chest pain
  • Chest pain reproducible with palpation

Gender differences in ACS

  • Women with ACS:
    • Less likely to be treated with guideline-directed medical therapies[5]
    • Less likely to undergo cardiac catheterization[5]
    • Less likely to receive timely reperfusion therapy[5]
    • More likely to report fatigue, dyspnea, indigestion, nausea or vomiting, palpitations, or weakness,[5] although some studies have found fewer differences in presentation[6]
  • More likely to delay presentation[5]
  • Men with ACS:
    • More likely to report central chest pain

Factors associated with delayed presentation[5]

  • Female sex
  • Older age
  • Black or Hispanic race
  • Low educational achievement
  • Low socioeconomic status

Differential Diagnosis

Chest pain

Critical

Emergent

Nonemergent

Evaluation

Work-Up

Diagnosis

Rule out unstable angina:

  • New angina
  • Angina at rest
  • Accelerating frequency or severity

History[7]

  • Assess:
    • Changes in angina or heart failure symptoms
    • Adherence to prescribed medications
    • Changes in medications
    • Medication side effects

Physical Examination[8]

  • Resting heart rate and blood pressure
  • Signs of heart failure
  • New dysrhythmia
  • New or worsening vascular bruits or murmurs
  • Status of abdominal aorta

Management[9]

  • Counsel regarding appropriate use of medications, nutrition, weight optimization, smoking cessation

Disposition

  • If angina is stable and there is no other reason for admission, may discharge home for further management by family physician or cardiologist

See Also

External Links

References

  1. ↑ Campeau, L. Grading of angina pectoris. Circulation 1976; 54:5223
  2. ↑ Body R, Carley S, Wibberley C, et al. The value of symptoms and signs in the emergent diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes. Resuscitation. 2010;81(3):281–286. PMID: 20036454
  3. ↑ Panju AA, Hemmelgarn BR, Guyatt GH, et al. The rational clinical examination. Is this patient having a myocardial infarction? JAMA. 1998;280(14):1256–1263. PMID: 9786377
  4. ↑ Swap CJ, Nagurney JT. Value and limitations of chest pain history in the evaluation of patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes. JAMA. 2005;294(20):2623–2629. PMID: 16304077
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Mehta LS, et al. Acute myocardial infarction in women: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2016; 133:916-947.
  6. ↑ Gimenez MR, et al. Sex-specific chest pain characteristics in the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. JAMA Intern Med. 2014; 174(2):241-249.
  7. ↑ Mancini, G et al. (2014) Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines for the diagnosis and management of stable ischemic heart disease. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 30(8).
  8. ↑ Mancini, G et al. (2014) Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines for the diagnosis and management of stable ischemic heart disease. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 30(8).
  9. ↑ Mancini, G et al. Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines for the diagnosis and management of stable ischemic heart disease (2014). Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 30(8).,