The Secondary Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease

Randomized clinical trials demonstrate the efficacy of medical secondary prevention in coronary disease patients. The magnitude of risk reduction with exercise, diet, lipid modification, and smoking cessation is similar to other medical therapies for coronary disease such as aspirin, beta blockers, as well as coronary bypass surgery, (Table VI) In contrast to these therapies, however, secondary prevention stabilizes angiographic progression in about 50% of patients and induces regression in about 25% of patients. Both symptoms and perceived quality of life also are beneficially altered by secondary prevention programs, although possibly not by the magnitude reported for bypass surgery. These clinical trial results have led the American Heart Association, and the American College of Cardiology to strongly endorse secondary prevention. A reasonable projection based on these clinical trial data is that widespread use of these recommendations in the 12 million established coronary disease patients would significantly reduce coronary mortality and morbidity.