Cardiologists’ Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches in the Outpatient Management of Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome in Turkey: An Observational–Registration Study

Background: Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and real-world data on outpatient management are limited. Methods: In total, 697 patients with previously diagnosed CCS who visited outpatient cardiology clinics at 25 centers in Turkey between June 2023 and December 2023 were prospectively enrolled and followed up for 12 weeks. Demographic and clinical characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, a modified questionnaire derived from the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (modified SAQ-based questionnaire), and clinical outcomes were recorded. Results: The most common diagnostic modalities were exercise stress testing (31.6%) and coronary angiography (38.2%). Medical therapy (58.5%) was preferred over interventional treatment (41.5%). Among patients who were not receiving the respective medication at baseline, beta-blockers (61.8%), statins (46.5%), and ranolazine (40.4%) were the most commonly newly initiated medications. Patients in the intervention group were younger, were more frequently current smokers, had greater nitrate use, and had lower ejection fraction than those in the medical treatment group. Patient-reported responses to the modified SAQ-based questionnaire shifted toward less functional limitation, lower angina burden, and better perceived quality of life over the 12-week follow-up. Conclusions: Medical therapy was the predominant management strategy for CCS in Turkey. The observed diagnostic and therapeutic patterns reflect real-world management of patients with established CCS, with substantial use of invasive coronary angiography and high baseline utilization of guideline-directed medical therapies.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
Published
2026-09-10
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd13090455
Primary Topic
Acute Myocardial Infarction Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

Cardiologists’ Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches in the Outpatient Management of Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome in Turkey: An Observational–Registration Study

Ajar Koçak, Ahmet Balun, Murat Küçükukur, Ayşegül Ülgen Kunak et al.
Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
Acute Myocardial Infarction Research
article

Cardiologists’ Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches in the Outpatient Management of Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome in Turkey: An Observational–Registration Study

Ajar Koçak, Ahmet Balun, Murat Küçükukur, Ayşegül Ülgen Kunak, Alkame Akgümüş, Fahri Er, Ömer Kümet, Muhammed Bayram, Öykü Gülmez Özkaya, Cansu Öztürk, Ufuk İyigün, Kenan Toprak, Fahrettin Katkat, Sefa Erdi Ömür, Ebru Serin, Şahbender Koç, Lütfü Bekar, Aslan Erdoğan, Mustafa Doğduş, Özkan Kayhan, Emrah Yeşil, Fatih AYTEMİZ, Mehdi Zoghi, Abdulla Arslan, Duygu Malkoç, Serhat Çalışkan, Emre Asiltürk, Sinan İnci, Önder Öztürk, Murat Bayrak, Halil Fedai
article en

Abstract

Background: Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and real-world data on outpatient management are limited. Methods: In total, 697 patients with previously diagnosed CCS who visited outpatient cardiology clinics at 25 centers in Turkey between June 2023 and December 2023 were prospectively enrolled and followed up for 12 weeks. Demographic and clinical characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, a modified questionnaire derived from the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (modified SAQ-based questionnaire), and clinical outcomes were recorded. Results: The most common diagnostic modalities were exercise stress testing (31.6%) and coronary angiography (38.2%). Medical therapy (58.5%) was preferred over interventional treatment (41.5%). Among patients who were not receiving the respective medication at baseline, beta-blockers (61.8%), statins (46.5%), and ranolazine (40.4%) were the most commonly newly initiated medications. Patients in the intervention group were younger, were more frequently current smokers, had greater nitrate use, and had lower ejection fraction than those in the medical treatment group. Patient-reported responses to the modified SAQ-based questionnaire shifted toward less functional limitation, lower angina burden, and better perceived quality of life over the 12-week follow-up. Conclusions: Medical therapy was the predominant management strategy for CCS in Turkey. The observed diagnostic and therapeutic patterns reflect real-world management of patients with established CCS, with substantial use of invasive coronary angiography and high baseline utilization of guideline-directed medical therapies.

Journal of Cardiovascular Development and DiseaseVol. 13(9)
Aksaray University (TR), SANE Mental Health Charity (GB), Ministry of Health (TR), Izmir University (TR), İzmir University of Economics (TR), Ufuk University (TR), Başkent University (TR), Dokuz Eylül University (TR), Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi (TR), Hitit Üniversitesi (TR), Ege University (TR), Türkiye Yüksek İhtisas Hastanesi (TR), Ankara Numune Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Akdeniz University Hospital (TR), Antalya Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Memorial Sisli Hospital (TR), Education Training And Research (US), Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi (TR), Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Istanbul Eye Hospital (TR), Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (TR), Antalya IVF (TR), Mersin Üniversitesi (TR), Harran University (TR), University of Health Sciences Antigua (AG)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Acute Myocardial Infarction Research
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.