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International EECP Patient Registry Data Updated At the
American College of Cardiology 2000
Quality of life and angina results persist or improve six months after completion
of EECP therapy
WESTBURY, NY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2000-- Vasomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq: VASO)
announced today that updated clinical outcomes from the International EECP Patient Registry (IEPR)
were presented at an IEPR participants' meeting conducted during the American College of Cardiology
2000 scientific sessions in Anaheim, CA this week. The update, presented by members of the IEPR
Steering Committee from the Epidemiology Data Center, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of
Public Health, showed that at six months following EECP therapy, quality of life measures were
statistically the same as at the completion of therapy. In addition, 82% of patients reported the same or
less angina at the end as at the beginning of the same six-month follow-up period.
The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health is a nationally respected registry center,
administrating numerous medical registries. With nearly 2,200 patients enrolled to date, the IEPR has
grown significantly from the 1,512 patients reported at the AHA meeting in November 1999. The IEPR
has a planned total enrollment of 5,000 patients.
The data were presented in four periods of six months each, covering the two-year duration of the
registry. In the most recent six-month group, consistent with previous reports, angina decreased by at
least one Canadian Cardiovascular Society Classification (CCSC) in more than 70 % of patients, and by
at least two classifications in nearly 40% of patients. The average CCSC functional classification was 3.1
before EECP therapy, improving to an average of 1.7 following EECP therapy. Quality of life data were
also positive, with only 17% of patients reporting good quality of life before EECP therapy and
approximately 48% reporting this level following EECP therapy. In this same group, over 54% of
patients were able to discontinue their use of nitroglycerine.
"We are particularly pleased to note that registry data indicate that quality of life and angina
improvements persist at six months following EECP therapy," commented D. Michael Deignan,
President and CEO of Vasomedical. "The IEPR continues to provide significant insights into clinical
outcomes of EECP therapy in the community-based EECP centers participating in the registry. It is a
valuable source of current data for research leading to future studies, presentations, and publications
which will contribute further to our understanding and acceptance of EECP therapy."
Jack |
