Which drug prolongs life in a patient with chronic stable angina?
The correct answer is likely a beta-blocker, like metoprolol. Beta-blockers reduce myocardial oxygen demand by decreasing heart rate, contractility, and blood pressure. They also have been shown in trials to reduce mortality. Let me verify that. Yes, studies like the ISIS and others have shown beta-blockers improve survival in CAD patients.
Now, the other options. If the options included other drugs like nitrates, calcium channel blockers, or antiplatelets. Nitrates relieve angina but don't improve survival. CCBs may be used for rate control but not proven to prolong life. Antiplatelets like aspirin reduce MI risk but the question is about prolonging life, which beta-blockers address more directly. Wait, but antiplatelets do reduce mortality from MI, so maybe that's a point to consider. However, the question is about chronic stable angina, not acute. So in stable angina, beta-blockers are the mainstay for mortality reduction. Aspirin is used for secondary prevention but not as the primary life-prolonging drug in this context. So in the wrong options, maybe the other drugs are nitrates, CCBs, or ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors might be used in heart failure but not specifically for stable angina.
Clinical pearl: Beta-blockers reduce mortality in chronic stable angina by decreasing myocardial oxygen demand and preventing ischemic events. Students should remember that beta-blockers are first-line not just for symptoms but also for survival benefit.
Need to structure the explanation with all the required sections. Make sure each part is concise and fits within the character limit. Check the formatting for bold labels and sections. Avoid markdown except for bold. Also, ensure the correct answer is labeled properly. Let me put it all together now.
**Core Concept**
Chronic stable angina results from myocardial ischemia due to fixed coronary artery obstruction. Life-prolonging therapies target reducing myocardial oxygen demand, preventing ischemic events, and mitigating atherosclerosis progression. Beta-blockers are cornerstone agents for mortality reduction in this population.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol) decrease myocardial oxygen demand by reducing heart rate, contractility, and blood pressure. They also improve coronary blood flow by reducing adrenergic surges. Clinical trials, such as the Coronary Drug Project, demonstrate beta-blockers lower mortality from myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin) relieve angina by venodilation but do not improve survival.
**Option B:** Calcium channel blockers (e.g., diltiazem) reduce angina frequency but lack proven mortality benefit in chronic stable angina.
**Option D:** Antiplatelet agents (e.g., aspirin) reduce MI risk but are adjunctive, not primary life-prolonging therapies in this context