Which medication is used to manage angina but has no mortality benefit?

Which medication is used to manage angina but has no mortality benefit?

• A. Atenolol
• B. Metoprolol
• C. Calcium channel blockers
• D. Nitroglycerin

Answer: (D)

Nitrates relieve angina symptoms without improving survival. Nitroglycerin works quickly by dilating veins, which lowers preload and myocardial oxygen demand, easing chest pain and increasing exercise tolerance. However, this benefit is symptomatic and does not translate into reduced risk of death or future heart events in stable angina, so it’s used for relief and prevention of angina episodes rather than mortality reduction. In contrast, beta-blockers have proven mortality benefits in coronary disease by further reducing heart rate and oxygen demand, especially after a myocardial infarction. Calcium channel blockers help with symptom control as well, but they don’t have the same established mortality benefit as beta-blockers. So the medication that fits the description is nitroglycerin.

Nitrates relieve angina symptoms without improving survival. Nitroglycerin works quickly by dilating veins, which lowers preload and myocardial oxygen demand, easing chest pain and increasing exercise tolerance. However, this benefit is symptomatic and does not translate into reduced risk of death or future heart events in stable angina, so it’s used for relief and prevention of angina episodes rather than mortality reduction. In contrast, beta-blockers have proven mortality benefits in coronary disease by further reducing heart rate and oxygen demand, especially after a myocardial infarction. Calcium channel blockers help with symptom control as well, but they don’t have the same established mortality benefit as beta-blockers. So the medication that fits the description is nitroglycerin.