[Severity of angina pectoris and coronary angiographic imaging]. / Nasilenie dusznicy bolesnej a obraz koronariograficzny naczyn wiencowych.

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to evaluate commonly accepted assumption that more extensive coronary lesions correspond to more severe coronary symptoms. 300 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease (74 women and 226 men) admitted to Department of Coronary Disease in 1993/94 were studied. Coronary symptoms were assessed according to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) classification of angina pectoris. Anatomic lesions revealed by angiography were classified as one, two or three vessel disease and also with use of Califfs jeopardy score (0-12 points) which is the simple and more precise method of estimating the amount of myocardium at risk. We found significant but rather weak correlation between severity of coronary symptoms (CCS) and angiographic findings (jeopardy score) (r = 0.16, p = 0.07). It was shown that there is the significant correlation between symptoms severity and anatomic lesions revealed by angiography. 17% of patients in spite of the extensive coronary atherosclerosis (10-12 points according to Califf) were almost asymptomatic (I class CCS). It is emphasized that one third of the patients had no critical stenosis however 51% of them presented severe coronary symptoms (III, IV class CCS).