To investigate the efficacy of Nicorandil in the treatment of unstable angina pectoris.

Sixty patients with unstable angina pectoris who received treatment in Department of Cardiovascular Disease, Suixi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China during January-July 2020 were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to receive either conventional treatment including antiplatelet, increasing coronal blood flow velocity, lipid-lowering treatment and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaque (control group, n = 30) or Nicorandil treatment and conventional treatment (observation group, n = 30). Clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups. Angina attack, electrocardiogram changes and adverse reactions in each group were analyzed before and after treatment.

Total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [88.67% (26/30) vs. 53.33% (16/30), χ² = 7.937, P = 0.005]. The frequency and duration of angina pectoris in the observation group were (1.53 ± 0.62) times/week, (1.93 ± 0.78) minutes, which were significantly lower or shorter than those in the control group [(1.97 ± 0.71) times /week, (2.60 ± 1.00) minutes, t = -2.359, -3.162, P = 0.025, 0.004). The total effective rate of electrocardiogram in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [70.00% (22/30) vs. 43.34% (13/30), χ² = 5.554, P = 0.018]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse drug reactions such as nausea, dizziness and palpitation between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

Based on conventional treatment, Nicorandil treatment for unstable angina pectoris can improve the clinical symptoms and electrocardiogram changes, exhibit remarkable efficacy, and therefore deserve clinical promotion.

Angina,unstable; Nicorandil; Electrocardiography; Comparative effectiveness research; Adverse drug reaction reporting systems