Prognostic significance of transient ischemic episodes: response to treatment shows improved prognosis. Results of the Total Ischemic Burden Bisoprolol Study (TIBBs) follow-up

Medizinische Abteilung, Krankenanstalt Rotes Kreuz, Munich, Germany.

OBJECTIVES: The Total Ischemic Burden Bisoprolol Study (TIBBS) follow-up examined cardiac event rates in relation to transient ischemia and its treatment. BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether transient ischemia on the ambulatory electrocardiogram has prognostic implications in stable angina and whether medical treatment can improve the prognosis. METHODS: The TIBBS trial was an 8-week, randomized, controlled comparison of the effects of bisoprolol and nifedipine on transient ischemic episodes in patients with stable angina pectoris. Of the 545 patients screened, 520 (95.4%) could be followed up. Rates of cardiac and noncardiac death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, hospital admission for unstable angina and need for coronary artery bypass graft surgery or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 145 events occurred in 120 (23.1%) of 520 patients. Patients with more than six episodes had an event rate of 32.5% compared with 25.0% for patients with two to six episodes and 13.2% for patients with less than two episodes (p < 0.001). Hard events (death, acute myocardial infarction, hospital admission for unstable angina pectoris) were more frequent in patients with two or more ischemic episodes (12.2% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.0049). Patients with a 100% response rate of transient ischemic episodes during the TIBBS trial had a 17.5% event rate at 1 year compared with 32.3% for non-100% responders (p = 0.008). Patients receiving bisoprolol during the TIBBS tria had a lower event rate (22.1%) at 1 year than patients randomized to nifedipine (33.1%, p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable angina pectoris, frequent episodes of transient ischemia are a marker for an increased event rate. A 100% response to medical treatment reduces the event rate. The greater reduction of ischemia with bisoprolol than nifedipine during the TIBBS trial translated into an improved outcome at 1 year.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. L. Brown, T. M. Sundt III, and B. J. Gersh Indications for Revascularization Card. Surg. Adult, January 1, 2008; 3(2008): 551 - 572. [Full Text]

				P. Erne, A. W. Schoenenberger, D. Burckhardt, M. Zuber, W. Kiowski, P. T. Buser, P. Dubach, T. J. Resink, and M. Pfisterer Effects of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Silent Ischemia After Myocardial Infarction: The SWISSI II Randomized Controlled Trial JAMA, May 9, 2007; 297(18): 1985 - 1991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Enseleit and F. Duru Long-term continuous external electrocardiographic recording: a review. Europace, April 1, 2006; 8(4): 255 - 266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. F. Cohn, K. M. Fox, and C. Daly Silent Myocardial Ischemia Circulation, September 9, 2003; 108(10): 1263 - 1277. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Adams, M. I. Chimowitz, J. S. Alpert, I. A. Awad, M. D. Cerqueria, P. Fayad, and K. A. Taubert Coronary Risk Evaluation in Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack and Ischemic Stroke: A Scientific Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the Stroke Council and the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Circulation, September 9, 2003; 108(10): 1278 - 1290. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Adams, M. I. Chimowitz, J. S. Alpert, I. A. Awad, M. D. Cerqueria, P. Fayad, and K. A. Taubert Coronary Risk Evaluation in Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack and Ischemic Stroke: A Scientific Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the Stroke Council and the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke, September 1, 2003; 34(9): 2310 - 2322. [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M. Sundt III, B. J. Gersh, and H. C. Smith Indications for Coronary Revascularization Card. Surg. Adult, January 1, 2003; 2(2003): 541 - 559. [Full Text]

				L Forslund, P Hjemdahl, C Held, I Bjorkander, S.V Eriksson, U Brodin, and N Rehnqvist Prognostic implications of results from exercise testing in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris treated with metoprolol or verapamil. A report from The Angina Prognosis Study In Stockholm (APSIS) Eur. Heart J., June 1, 2000; 21(11): 901 - 910. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J.M Cruickshank Beta-blockers continue to surprise us Eur. Heart J., March 1, 2000; 21(5): 354 - 364. [PDF]

				M. H. Crawford, S. J. Bernstein, P. C. Deedwania, J. P. DiMarco, K. J. Ferrick, A. Garson Jr, L. A. Green, H. L. Greene, M. J. Silka, P. H. Stone, et al. ACC/AHA guidelines for ambulatory electrocardiography: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee to Revise the Guidelines for Ambulatory Electrocardiography) developed in collaboration with the North American Society for Pacing and Electrophysiology J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 1, 1999; 34(3): 912 - 948. [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Weber, H. Schneider, T. von Arnim, and W. Urbaszek Heart rate variability and ischaemia in patients with coronary heart disease and stable angina pectoris: Influence of drug therapy and prognostic value Eur. Heart J., January 1, 1999; 20(1): 38 - 50. [Abstract] [PDF]