Patients with ACS most commonly present with angina, which patients usually describe as pain, pressure, tightness, or heaviness in the chest, with potential radiation to the jaw or left arm. It may be accompanied by shortness of breath, diaphoresis, nausea, or any combination of the above. The chest pain may be precipitated by exertion and relieved by rest and/or nitroglycerin in the case of stable angina. In cases of unstable angina or myocardial infarction (MI) (non-ST segment elevation MI (NSTEMI)/ST segment elevation MI (STEMI)), the chest pain will likely not fully resolve with rest or nitroglycerin. In the case of stable angina, the symptoms may last 5 minutes before resolving after rest or the use of nitroglycerin.[5] Although these are classic signs of ACS, classic angina may not occur in some patients, especially diabetics, so one must have a high index of suspicion in patients with significant cardiac risk factors. 

A physical exam may be unremarkable; however, the patient may appear uncomfortable or anxious. He or she may be diaphoretic or clutching his or her chest. Vital signs may be normal or reveal tachycardia and tachypnea most commonly.

In patients presenting with angina, the value of cardiac testing is determined by the patient’s pretest, probably of ACS. Pretest probably is evaluated by considering the patient’s presentation, along with their cardiac risk factors. In patients with very high or very low pretest probability, diagnostic tests are less valuable as they are less likely to change management.[5]

Initial testing includes a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, and basic lab testing, including complete blood count (CBC), basic metabolic profile (BMP), along with serial troponin levels if ACS is suspected. ECG may not show any abnormalities in the cases of stable angina, unstable angina, or NSTEMI. ECG findings of myocardial ischemia include T-wave flattening or inversions, or ST-segment depressions. Further testing may include exercise or pharmacologic stress testing with or without nuclear perfusion imaging, and diagnostic heart catheterization. ECG changes will appear in STEMIs and prompt immediate need for coronary revascularization.

Treatment of chronic stable angina is aimed at managing symptoms as well as slowing progression to cardiac events. Management is multifactorial and involves lifestyle modifications, risk factor modification, and medical therapy as essential components of treatment.[6] In cases in which symptoms are refractory to medical therapy, revascularization may be attempted; however, although it may be successful in controlling symptoms, it is not shown to reduce major cardiovascular events compared with medical therapy.[7]

Lifestyle modifications include regular exercise, weight control, and smoking cessation and should be encouraged. Risk factor modification includes controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Medications for risk factor modification and to prevent disease progression include aspirin, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or angiotensin receptor blockers.[6]

Medical therapy can be used to control symptoms as well as help to mitigate the risk of progression of atherosclerosis and cardiac events.[6] Antianginal agents can be separated based on the mechanism of symptom relief in angina. In general, symptomatic control is achieved by way of decreasing myocardial oxygen consumption. 

As heart rate is the main influencer of oxygen consumption, most anginal events are initiated by an increase in heart rate.[1] Three classes of drugs used for angina reduce symptoms by way of heart rate reduction— beta-blockers, ivabradine, and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers. Calcium channel blockers should be avoided in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and decreased ejection fraction.

Another mechanism by which anginal symptoms can be treated is with vascular smooth muscle relaxation. This leads to coronary artery dilatation, thereby increasing perfusion ability. The drugs that work on this mechanism are dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, nitrates, and nicorandil.[1]

Another drug used for chronic stable angina is ranolazine, which inhibits the late sodium current in ventricular myocardial cells. This reduces diastolic contractile dysfunction.[8]

Treatment for unstable angina is aimed at pain reduction, limiting damage to the myocardium, and decreasing morbidity and mortality. 

Nitrates - no mortality benefit, but used for chest pain relief. They cause vasodilation, which decreases preload and left ventricular end-diastolic volume. This reduces myocardial oxygen consumption. They are contraindicated in cases of hypotension and previous use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors within the past 48 hours.[9]

Morphine - no mortality benefit, used for pain relief when pain relief not fully achieved by nitrates. It causes some vasodilation, aside from analgesia.

Beta-blockers - reduce mortality. They cause a decrease in heart rate, contractility, and blood pressure, thereby reducing myocardial oxygen demand.[9]

Antiplatelet agents - dual therapy with aspirin and either clopidogrel, ticagrelor, or prasugrel decreases the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndromes— acute myocardial infarction, cardiovascular death, and stroke.[9][10]

Anticoagulants - reduce mortality by decreasing re-infarction rates in combination with antiplatelet agents. Used intravenously for acute treatment.[9]

Anatomic assessment of coronary arteries/consideration of revascularization - high-risk patients should be identified with risk stratification methods and considered for urgent revascularization.[9]

The differential diagnosis of angina can divide into body systems:

• Gastrointestinal: gastroesophageal reflux, hiatal hernia, peptic ulcer disease 
• Pulmonary: pneumothorax, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism
• Musculoskeletal: costochondritis, rib injury, muscle spasm, chest wall injury
• Psychiatric: panic attack, generalized anxiety
• Cardiac non-ischemic: pericarditis, myocarditis
• Vascular: aortic dissection

Prognosis of chronic stable angina progression to cardiac events varies among patients. Factors affecting prognosis include cardiovascular comorbidities as well as compliance with lifestyle modifications and medical treatment plan. Long term prognosis is also affected by left ventricular systolic function, the degree of exercise the patient can tolerate, and the extent of CAD present.[1]

Risk factors for poorer prognosis are diabetes mellitus, previous MI, hypertension, increasing age, male sex.[11] The use of nitrates has also demonstrated to be a negative prognostic indicator of mortality, likely because their use indicates more advanced disease.

As the initial symptom of CAD in many cases, the main complication of angina is a future cardiac event, such as myocardial infarction. In one study, estimates are that the 10-year risk of MI exceeded 10 percent in women with chronic stable angina starting from when they initially began to use nitrates to treat symptoms.[12]

Aside from this potentially fatal complication, chronic stable angina has implications for society as well as patients. These include lower quality of life due to decreased ability to perform daily activities, as well as an increased burden to society from indirect costs, such as early retirement or disability.[1] Angina treatment should be aimed not only at improving mortality but also at treating symptoms so patients can be more active.[13]

Patients with cardiac risk factors should be monitored for symptoms of angina and receive education about alarming signs such as symptoms occurring at rest and symptoms no longer relieved by nitrates. It is imperative to stress risk factor modification as an essential component of treatment to slow progression. So, dietary and exercise education, along with smoking cessation counseling, if applicable, is beneficial. It is important to stress compliance with medications, as well.

Recognizing the symptoms of angina is critical to making a diagnosis of CAD, but similar symptoms can present in many other conditions. The interprofessional team must recognize signs of cardiac vs. non-cardiac chest pain and understand that the etiology may not be clear based solely on the quality of pain. In specific patient populations, such as patients with diabetes, the presentation may be more inconspicuous. Understanding the patient's medical history and family history is critical to making the diagnosis. In the presence of cardiac risk factors, the clinician must have a high index of suspicion for a cardiac etiology and conduct further workup, versus when risk factors are absent. 

While the cardiologist is the team leader in the treatment and management of these patients, it is the primary care physician who usually completes the initial workup and makes the diagnosis in many cases. It is vital to obtain an accurate history and physical and have an open line of communication between physicians, or else the clinician may miss the diagnosis. A missed diagnosis increases the morbidity and mortality for these patients as it may delay their treatment. 

As the management of the condition progresses, cardiology nurses play an essential role in monitoring, assessing patient compliance with treatment regimens, and encouraging lifestyle changes. The pharmacist will weigh in on the patient's medication regimen by evaluating the effectiveness of chosen agents, checking for drug-drug interactions, and verifying dosing. With this type of interprofessional collaboration, patients with angina can experience increased quality of life and avoid future morbidity. [Level 5]