Background 

Patients with refractory angina pectoris experience recurrent symptoms that limit their functional capacity, including psychological distress and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL), despite optimized medical therapy. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is an evidence-based alternative noninvasive treatment. Although physical well-being and mental well-being are equally important components of health, few studies have investigated the psychological effects of EECP in patients with refractory angina pectoris.

Objective 

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of EECP treatment in patients with refractory angina pectoris regarding medication profile, physical capacity, cardiac anxiety, and HRQoL.

Methods 

This quasi-experimental study with 1-group pretest-posttest design includes a 6-month follow-up of 50 patients (men, n = 37; mean age, 65.8 years) who had undergone 1 EECP course. The following pretreatment and posttreatment data were collected: medication use, 6-minute walk test results, functional class according to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, and self-reported (ie, questionnaire data) cardiac anxiety and HRQoL. In addition, the questionnaires were also completed at a 6-month follow-up.

Results 

After EECP treatment, patients used significantly less nitrates (P < .001), walking distance increased on average by 46 m (P < .001), and Canadian Cardiovascular Society class improved (P < .001). In addition, all but 1 subscale of cardiac anxiety and all HRQoL components improved significantly (P < .05). The positive effects for cardiac anxiety and HRQoL were maintained at the 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions 

Enhanced external counterpulsation treatment resulted in reduced symptom burden, improved physical capacity, and less cardiac anxiety, leading to increased physical activity and enhanced life satisfaction for patients with refractory angina pectoris. Enhanced external counterpulsation treatment should be considered to improve the life situation for these patients.

中文翻译：

---

增强型体外反搏治疗对难治性心绞痛患者的症状负担、用药情况、体能、心脏焦虑和健康相关生活质量的有效性。

背景 

尽管进行了优化的药物治疗，难治性心绞痛患者仍会出现限制其功能能力的复发性症状，包括心理困扰和健康相关生活质量(HRQoL)受损。增强体外反搏 (EECP) 是一种循证替代无创治疗。虽然身体健康和心理健康是健康的同等重要组成部分，但很少有研究调查 EECP 对难治性心绞痛患者的心理影响。

目标 

本研究的目的是评估 EECP 治疗对难治性心绞痛患者的药物治疗、身体能力、心脏焦虑和 HRQoL 的影响。

方法 

这项采用 1 组前测-后测设计的准实验研究包括对 50 名已接受 1 个 EECP 课程的患者（男性，n = 37；平均年龄，65.8 岁）进行的 6 个月随访。收集了以下治疗前和治疗后数据：药物使用、6 分钟步行测试结果、根据加拿大心血管学会的功能分类以及自我报告（即问卷数据）心脏焦虑和 HRQoL。此外，问卷也在 6 个月的随访中完成。

结果 

EECP 治疗后，患者使用硝酸盐显着减少 ( P < .001)，步行距离平均增加 46 m ( P < .001)，加拿大心血管学会等级改善 ( P < .001)。此外，除了 1 个心脏焦虑分量表和所有 HRQoL 分量外，所有分量表均显着改善 ( P < .05)。对心脏焦虑和 HRQoL的积极影响在 6 个月的随访中得以保持。

结论 

加强体外反搏治疗可减轻症状负担，改善身体能力，减少心脏焦虑，从而增加体力活动，提高难治性心绞痛患者的生活满意度。应考虑加强体外反搏治疗，以改善这些患者的生活状况。