the COURAGE Trial

The COURAGE Trial was a large study that compared two treatments for stable coronary artery disease, a condition where arteries supplying the heart are narrowed. One group received medication management alone, while the other group received both medications and a procedure called stenting to open blocked arteries. Over several years, the study found that adding stenting did not significantly reduce the risk of death, heart attacks, or other major heart problems compared to medication alone. This suggests that for many patients with stable symptoms, careful medication management is a valid approach before considering invasive procedures.