Prevalence of angina and use of medical therapy among US adults: A nationally representative estimate

Recent results from the ISCHEMIA trial highlight the importance of medical management for patients with stable ischemic heart disease. We determine the prevalence of angina in the United States, as well as the use of first-line goal directed therapy by US patients with angina. We used individual patient level data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2007–2016. Using the complex survey weights, we create projections for the US population with angina as well as those using β-blockers, antiplatelet agents, or statins—3 first-line medications for patients with angina. Among adults ≥40 years old, 4,469,934 US adults are estimated to have physician-diagnosed angina. Of the patients with angina, 2,757,171 (61.7%) were on β-blockers, 2,984,902 (66.8%) were on statins, and 2,433,088 (54.4%) were on any antiplatelet medication; 1,457,983 patients were on all 3 medications, for an overall proportion of 32.6% of angina patients taking all three first-line medications in the United States. While the prevalence of angina in the US is high, the use of goal-directed medical therapy remains low. Strategies to improve the use of medications for preventing secondary events are urgently needed.