Efficacy of I(f) inhibition with ivabradine in different subpopulations with stable angina pectoris.

Objectives: The antianginal and anti-ischemic efficacy of ivabradine has been demonstrated in large-scale trials. Pooling trial data allowed for subpopulation analyses of ivabradine's antianginal efficacy.
Methods: Data on the frequency of angina attacks, short-acting nitrate consumption, and heart rate were pooled from 5 randomized trials in patients with stable angina pectoris receiving 5, 7.5, or 10 mg of ivabradine b.i.d. for 3 or 4 months. The subpopulations were defined according to age, sex, disease characteristics, and comorbidities (severity of angina, history of myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, revascularization status, diabetes, asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or peripheral vascular disease).
Results: Efficacy data were available for 2,425 patients (full analysis set), in whom ivabradine reduced the frequency of diary-based angina attacks by 59.4% and nitrate consumption by 53.7%. All subpopulations experienced 51-70% reductions in the frequency of angina attacks, with similar reductions for the other parameters studied. Ivabradine's efficacy was maintained in the presence of different comorbidities. In the safety set, ivabradine reduced heart rate by 14.5%. Ivabradine had a good safety and tolerability profile in all the subpopulations assessed.
Conclusions: The antianginal efficacy of ivabradine was consistent across all the subpopulations analyzed, independent of the severity of angina and the presence of a comorbidity.
(Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.)