Anginal Equivalents

Anginal Equivalents
• Anginal “equivalents” are symptoms of
myocardial ischemia other than angina.
• They include dyspnea, nausea, fatigue, and
faintness.
• They are more common in the elderly and in
diabetic patients.
 Anginal Equivalents
• Generalized sympathetic and parasympathetic
stimulation  tachycardia, diaphoresis, and nausea,
weakness and fatigue
• ↑ LV diastolic pressure  ↑ pulmonary pressure 
dyspnea

When such symptoms occur as a consequence o

myocardial ischemia but are unaccompanied by typical
chest discomfort, they are referred to as “anginal
equivalents.”
Killips Classification