Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Clinical trials were eligible for inclusion (no further details were given). The included studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs).
Specific interventions included in the review
The authors did not state the inclusion and exclusion criteria used in relation to the intervention. The specific interventions were CCBs, including diltiazem, nifedipine, verapamil, nisoldipine and amlodipine. In all but one of the included trials, the comparison intervention was placebo. In the one study which was not placebo-controlled, the comparison intervention was not stated. Stents were used in a minority of patients in one study.
Participants included in the review
The participants were patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary angioplasty. In the included studies, the mean age of the participants ranged from 51 to 60 years and the proportion of men was 77 to 87%. Between 0 and 28% of the participants had diabetes. The percentage diameter stenosis at baseline ranged from 73 to 85%.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The outcomes were the rate of restenosis and a combined outcome of death, coronary artery bypass graft, repeat PCTA and myocardial infarction.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.