Stents an alternative to pain medication for people with angina
The ORBITA-2 study has shown patients who experience angina may benefit from a stent implanted instead of chest pain medication.
Angina is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles. It’s not usually life-threatening, but it's a warning sign of the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Study participants were asked to stop taking their medication and received a stent, a small device implanted into the heart to keep a narrowed artery open, or a placebo procedure. All participants continued taking aspirin and statins to reduce the risk of heart attack.
The researchers found that implanting a stent in the heart improved chest pain and exercise capacity.
Participants were recruited across 14 hospitals in the UK including 5 at Wycombe Hospital, Buckinghamshire and 1 from the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
Read the full story on the NIHR website.
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