Copyright © 1996 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1996 The European Society of Cardiology
Effects of metoprolol vs verapamil in patients with stable angina pectoris
The Angina Prognosis Study in Stockholm (APSIS)

Karolinska Instituiet, Department of Internal Medicine, Danderyd Hospital Danderyd, Sweden
*Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Hospital Stockholm, Sweden
Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm, Sweden
Correspondence: Assoc. Prof. Nina Rehnqvist, FESC, FACC, Department of Internal Medicine, Danderyd Hospital, S-182 88 Danderyd, Sweden
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study long-term treatment effects of metoprolol or verapamil on combined cardiovascular end points and psychological variables in patients with stable angina pectoris.
DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, double-dummy trial.
PATIENTS: The study included 809 patients under 70 years of age with stable angina pectoris. The mean age of the patients was 59 ± 7 years and 31% were women. Exclusion criteria were myocardial infarction within the previous 3 years and contraindications to beta-blockers and calcium antagonists. The patients were followed between 6 and 75 months (median 3.4 years and a total of 2887 patient years).
INTERVENTION: The patients were treated with either metoprolol (Seloken ZOC 200 mg o.d.) or verapamil (Isoptin Retard 240 b.i.d.). Acetylsalicylic acid, ACE inhibitors, lipid lowering drugs and long acting nitrates were allowed in the study.
END POINTS: Death, non-fatal cardiovascular events including acute myocardial infarction, incapacitating or unstable angina, cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular events. Psychological variables reflecting quality of life i.e. psychosomatic symptoms, sleep disturbances and an evaluation of overall life satisfaction.
RESULTS: Combined cardiovascular events did not differ and occurred in 30.8% and 29 3% of metoprolol and verapamil treated patients respectively. Total mortality in metoprolol and verapamil treated patients was 5.4 and 6.2%, respectively. Cardiovascular mortality was 4.7% in both groups. Non-fatal cardiovascular events occurred in 26.1 and 24.3% of metoprolol and verapamil-treated patients, respectively. Psychosomatic symptoms and sleep disturbances were significantly improved in both treatment groups. The magnitudes of change were small and did not differ between treatments. Life satisfaction did not change on either drug. Withdrawals due to side effects occurred in 11.1 and 14.6%, respectively.
CONCLUSION: This long term study indicates that both drugs are well tolerated and that no difference was shown on the effect on mortality, cardiovascular end points and measures of quality of life.
Key Words: Angina pectoris metoprolol verapamil prognosis
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
F. Crea, P. G. Camici, R. De Caterina, and G. A. Lanza CHAPTER 17 Chronic Ischaemic Heart Disease ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, January 1, 2009; 2(1): med-9780199566990-chapter - med-9780199566990-chapter. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Kolloch, U. F. Legler, A. Champion, R. M. Cooper-DeHoff, E. Handberg, Q. Zhou, and C. J. Pepine Impact of resting heart rate on outcomes in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease: findings from the INternational VErapamil-SR/trandolapril STudy (INVEST) Eur. Heart J., May 2, 2008; 29(10): 1327 - 1334. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. H. Stone, N. A. Gratsiansky, A. Blokhin, I-Z. Huang, L. Meng, and for the ERICA Investigators Antianginal Efficacy of Ranolazine When Added to Treatment With Amlodipine: The ERICA (Efficacy of Ranolazine in Chronic Angina) Trial J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 1, 2006; 48(3): 566 - 575. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N F Murphy, C R Simpson, K MacIntyre, F A McAlister, J Chalmers, and J J V McMurray Prevalence, incidence, primary care burden and medical treatment of angina in Scotland: age, sex and socioeconomic disparities: a population-based study Heart, August 1, 2006; 92(8): 1047 - 1054. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Authors/Task Force Members, K. Fox, M. A. A. Garcia, D. Ardissino, P. Buszman, P. G. Camici, F. Crea, C. Daly, G. De Backer, P. Hjemdahl, et al. Guidelines on the management of stable angina pectoris: executive summary: The Task Force on the Management of Stable Angina Pectoris of the European Society of Cardiology Eur. Heart J., June 1, 2006; 27(11): 1341 - 1381. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P Hjemdahl, S V Eriksson, C Held, L Forslund, P Nasman, and N Rehnqvist Favourable long term prognosis in stable angina pectoris: an extended follow up of the angina prognosis study in Stockholm (APSIS) Heart, February 1, 2006; 92(2): 177 - 182. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. O. Bonetti, C. Kaiser, M. J. Zellweger, L. Grize, P. Erne, R. A. Schoenenberger, M. E. Pfisterer, and TIME Investigators Long-Term Benefits and Limitations of Combined Antianginal Drug Therapy in Elderly Patients with Symptomatic Chronic Coronary Artery Disease Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, January 1, 2005; 10(1): 29 - 37. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
U. Thadani Current Medical Management of Chronic Stable Angina Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, March 1, 2004; 9(1_suppl): S11 - S29. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L Forslund, I Bjorkander, M Ericson, C Held, T Kahan, N Rehnqvist, and P Hjemdahl Prognostic implications of autonomic function assessed by analyses of catecholamines and heart rate variability in stable angina pectoris Heart, May 1, 2002; 87(5): 415 - 422. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Lindahl, E. Diderholm, B. Lagerqvist, P. Venge, L. Wallentin, and the FRISC II Investigators Mechanisms behind the prognostic value of troponin T in unstable coronary artery disease: a FRISC II substudy J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 1, 2001; 38(4): 979 - 986. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. R. Kizer and S. E. Kimmel Epidemiologic Review of the Calcium Channel Blocker Drugs: An Up-to-date Perspective on the Proposed Hazards Arch Intern Med, May 14, 2001; 161(9): 1145 - 1158. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Held, P. Hjemdahl, S.V. Eriksson, I. Bjorkander, L. Forslund, and N. Rehnqvist Prognostic implications of intima-media thickness and plaques in the carotid and femoral arteries in patients with stable angina pectoris Eur. Heart J., January 1, 2001; 22(1): 62 - 72. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L Forslund, P Hjemdahl, C Held, I Bjorkander, S.V Eriksson, U Brodin, and N Rehnqvist Prognostic implications of results from exercise testing in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris treated with metoprolol or verapamil. A report from The Angina Prognosis Study In Stockholm (APSIS) Eur. Heart J., June 1, 2000; 21(11): 901 - 910. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. A. Heidenreich, K. M. McDonald, T. Hastie, B. Fadel, V. Hagan, B. K. Lee, and M. A. Hlatky Meta-analysis of Trials Comparing {beta}-Blockers, Calcium Antagonists, and Nitrates for Stable Angina JAMA, May 26, 1999; 281(20): 1927 - 1936. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. J. Pepine, E. Handberg-Thurmond, R. G. Marks, M. Conlon, R. Cooper-Dehoff, P. Volkers, P. Zellig, and for The INVEST Investigators Rationale and design of the International Verapamil SR/Trandolapril Study (INVEST): an Internet-based randomized trial in coronary artery disease patients with hypertension J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., November 1, 1998; 32(5): 1228 - 1237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. L. Smith, G. E. Reiber, B. M. Psaty, S. R. Heckbert, D. S. Siscovick, J. L. Ritchie, N. R. Every, and T. D. Koepsell Health outcomes associated with beta-blocker and diltiazem treatment of unstable angina J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., November 1, 1998; 32(5): 1305 - 1311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Held, P. Hjemdahl, N. Rehnqvist, N. H. Wallen, I. Bjorkander, S. V. Eriksson, L. Forslund, and B. Wiman Fibrinolytic Variables and Cardiovascular Prognosisin Patients With Stable Angina Pectoris Treated With Verapamil or Metoprolol: Results From the Angina Prognosis Study in Stockholm Circulation, May 20, 1997; 95(10): 2380 - 2386. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||







