Ranolazine Reduces Patient-Reported Angina Severity and Frequency and Improves Quality of Life in Selected Patients with Chronic Angina

BACKGROUND Chronic stable angina negatively affects quality of life (QoL). American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines highlight maintaining/restoring a level of activity, functional capacity, and QoL that is satisfactory to the patient as an objective of treatment, and further define the treatment goal for most patients as maximizing survival and achieving prompt and complete (or near-complete) elimination of angina with a return to normal activities. OBJECTIVE To assess self-reported angina severity, frequency, and QoL in patients with chronic stable angina who had not undergone revascularization and who were prescribed and remained on ranolazine. METHODS Patients (N = 92) answered a survey evaluating their perceptions of angina prior to ranolazine initiation (based on recall of previous experience) and during ranolazine treatment. Change in QoL was assessed using the Patient Global Impression of Change scale. RESULTS Most respondents were female (64%) and had taken ranolazine for ≥6 months (89%); mean age was 64 years. The majority of respondents selected higher scores for angina severity before ranolazine treatment (54%), and lower scores for severity while on ranolazine (68%). Most respondents reported experiencing ≥1 angina attack/week before ranolazine treatment (82%) and <1 attack/week while on ranolazine (73%). The effect of angina on daily activities was less while taking ranolazine than before ranolazine treatment; 52 and 8% of respondents, respectively, reported significant impact, and 12 and 67%, respectively, reported little/no impact. Most respondents reported noticeably improved angina-related QoL since starting ranolazine (79%). CONCLUSION Patients who maintained ranolazine treatment for durations ranging from <6 months to >4 years reported substantial improvements in angina severity, frequency, and QoL.