ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of continuous and intermittent transdermal nitrate therapy using ambulatory electrocardiographic (Holter) monitoring. Eighty-five patients with stable angina pectoris and positive exercise test results participated during their concomitant antiischemic medication in a randomized open trial lasting 12 weeks. After a 3-week run-in period with continuous therapy (10 mg/24 hours), patients were randomized to either continuous- or intermittent-therapy groups. In the intermittent-therapy group the patients removed their patch at night (the mean patch-off period was 10 hours). Forty-eight-hour Holter monitoring was performed in each patient after randomization, and again after 2 and 12 weeks. Eighteen patients withdrew, 9 in each group. A total of 11,194 hours of electrocardiography were recorded and 607 ischemic episodes were detected, of which 79% were asymptomatic and 95% appeared during daytime. The number of ischemic episodes per 48 hours with intermittent therapy was 3.1 +/- 0.7 (mean +/- SEM) after randomization, 1.8 +/- 0.4 at 2 weeks and 2.0 +/- 0.6 at 12 weeks. With continuous therapy the respective numbers were 3.8 +/- 1.1, 3.5 +/- 0.9 and 4.2 +/- 1.2. The differences were not statistically significant because a large number of patients (30%) had no ischemic episodes on Holter recording. However, when examining 47 patients with episodes during the study, the number of episodes was significantly reduced in the intermittent-therapy group (p less than 0.05 at 12 weeks). The changes in asymptomatic and symptomatic episodes were concordant. No changes and differences between the treatment groups were seen in nighttime episodes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Subject(s)
Angina Pectoris/drug therapy , Coronary Disease/drug therapy , Nitrates/therapeutic use , Administration, Cutaneous , Administration, Oral , Administration, Sublingual , Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use , Angina Pectoris/physiopathology , Calcium Channel Blockers/therapeutic use , Circadian Rhythm , Coronary Disease/physiopathology , Drug Administration Schedule , Electrocardiography, Ambulatory , Exercise Test , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nitrates/administration & dosage , Nitrates/adverse effects , Quality of Life , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The North Karelia Worksite Intervention Study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of worksite-based innovative intervention on chronic disease risk factors. The one-year intervention combined use of mass media, worksite opinion leaders, risk assessment and counselling and other health education measures. The study used eight medium sized intervention worksites (IW) and eight matched reference worksites (RW). Of the 715 workers 91% participated in the initial survey, and out of these 89% in the one-year follow-up survey. The proportion of current smokers changed from 39% to 30% (p less than 0.05) at the IWs while no change took place at the RWs (33%). The effect on smoking was confirmed by serum thiocyanate analyses. An additive score of the three main CHD risk factors changed from 3.1 to 2.7 at the IWs and from 3.2 to 3.0 at the RWs (p less than 0.05 for the net change). The results and experiences showed the feasibility of the intervention and significant, although modest, effects on risk factors and health behaviour, notably smoking.
