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The COURAGE trial included 2287 patients with stable coronary artery disease randomized to receive primary percutaneous coronary intervention plus optimal medical therapy or optimal medical therapy alone. In March 2007, the COURAGE investigators reported no significant between-group differences in the risk for death or MI at a median follow-up of 4.6 years (JW Cardiol Mar 26 2007). The present analysis compares the effects of the two treatment strategies on angina relief and general health status.
In both groups, the percentage of patients who were free of angina increased markedly within 1 month of enrollment. Through 24 months, the proportion of angina-free patients was slightly but significantly higher in the PCI group than in the medical…