Life Expectancy in Angina Pectoris

In recent years there has been a gradual change in the conception of the prognosis of patients who have angina pectoris. As additional follow-up studies are recorded, one may note a favorable lengthening of the average survival period of patients who have this disease.1No one would wish to contend that the diagnosis of coronary sclerosis with angina pectoris does not carry with it an element of seriousness and insecurity which usually necessitates a decided modification of the patient's manner of living. However, there is now reason to believe that the average patient who has angina pectoris may anticipate a longer survival than was thought reasonable to predict a few years ago. Investigations of the pathologic characteristics of coronary heart disease have led to an increased appreciation of the amazing extent to which the heart is capable of readjusting itself to pathologic processes involving the coronary blood vessels, even