OBJECTIVETo analyze the current status of clinical studies of TCM in preventing and treating angina pectoris of coronary heart disease.

METHODSA statistical analysis of articles regarding the use of TCM in preventing and treating angina pectoris, published in TCM core journals or journals of TCM university (college) from January 2001 to June 2002 was conducted, the items analyzed included the differentiation of stable angina (SA) and unstable angina (UA), the grading or stratifying, standard for therapeutic efficacy evaluation, standardized drug therapy of UA (according to the "Suggestion on the diagnosis and treatment of UA" formulated by Society of Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Medical Association, etc.

RESULTSFrom the 44 articles that retrieved, UA and SA was not differed in 29 articles (65.9%), among which 11 articles came from provincial, national TCM institute or hospital affiliated to TCM university (college). In the 34 articles dealing with UA, only 3 articles mentioned the standardized drug therapy. Standard of therapeutic efficacy evaluation announced in 1979 was used in 35 articles (79.5%).

CONCLUSIONMost articles dealing with clinical study on TCM prevention and treatment of angina pectoris, UA and SA, have the flaws of un-standardized, lacking in compact and insufficient science. Improvement of related standard for clinical therapeutic efficacy evaluation needs to be further perfected.