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Cardiology · London

Coronary artery disease treatment, from lifestyle to revascularisation.

A modern, guideline‑led plan built around you - risk factor control, the right drugs to target, structured cardiac rehab, and PCI or CABG only when the anatomy calls for it.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private coronary artery disease treatment costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

A full consultant workup and treatment plan: £1,000–£2,000, in place within one to two weeks.

Service Indicative range
Cardiology consultation £250–£450
ECG + resting bloods panel £180–£350
CT coronary angiography (with report) £650–£1,200
Stress echo / stress MRI £800–£1,600
Invasive coronary angiography £3,500–£6,000
PCI with drug-eluting stent £8,000–£18,000
Cardiac rehabilitation programme (12 weeks) £1,200–£2,400

Prices vary by clinic, by cardiologist, by imaging modality, and by whether revascularisation is needed. Advanced lipid therapies (PCSK9, inclisiran) are quoted separately.

The problem

The right targets, the right drugs, the right time to intervene.

Coronary disease is over‑stented and under‑treated at the same time. LDL targets are missed, rehab is skipped, and new therapies never make it to the plan. We fix the whole ladder, not just one rung.

  • LDL still above 1.4?

    Ezetimibe first, then a PCSK9 inhibitor or inclisiran - not another dose of the same statin and hope.

  • Angina despite therapy?

    Beta‑blocker plus a second anti‑anginal, then a fresh anatomy assessment - CT or invasive.

  • Never had proper rehab?

    A structured 12‑week programme lowers mortality - you should be in one, not on a waiting list.

When it helps

When a coronary artery disease plan is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.

  • Stable angina

    Chest tightness on exertion that settles with rest - a treatment ladder from drugs to revascularisation.

  • Post-MI care

    Structured secondary prevention after a heart attack - the piece that decides whether it happens again.

  • Post-PCI or post-CABG follow-up

    Antiplatelets, lipid targets and rehab after a stent or bypass - done to guideline, not by guesswork.

  • Silent ischaemia on imaging

    Coronary disease found on a CT or stress test without classic symptoms - still needs a proper plan.

  • Recurrent angina despite therapy

    Symptoms that persist on optimal medical therapy - a trigger to reassess anatomy and options.

  • High Lp(a) or familial hyperlipidaemia

    Genetic drivers that a standard statin alone will not fix - PCSK9 inhibitors, inclisiran, and targeted therapies.

  • Diabetes with cardiovascular risk

    SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP‑1 agonists now sit alongside statins in the modern plan.

  • Red flag: unstable chest pain

    New, worsening or rest chest pain is unstable angina or an MI - 999, not a clinic booking.

Treatment options

A stent is not the only option.

What each option on the table actually involves - and which one fits which anatomy and comorbidity.

  • Medical therapy only

    The default for most patients - risk factor control, statin high‑intensity, antiplatelet, and anti‑anginal drugs to guideline targets.

  • PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention)

    A stent, usually drug‑eluting, via the wrist - the workhorse for focal disease and acute coronary syndromes.

  • CABG (coronary artery bypass)

    Open surgery, best for left‑main and complex multi‑vessel disease, particularly in diabetes and reduced LV function.

  • Hybrid revascularisation

    LIMA to LAD via minimally invasive surgery, plus PCI to the other territories - for selected multi‑vessel anatomy.

  • Cardiac rehabilitation

    A structured 12‑week programme of exercise, education and psychological support - one of the highest‑value interventions in medicine.

  • Refractory angina therapies

    Coronary sinus reducer, enhanced external counterpulsation, spinal cord stimulation - for symptoms despite optimal therapy and unsuitable anatomy.

  • Advanced lipid therapies

    Ezetimibe, bempedoic acid, PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies and siRNA (inclisiran) to reach LDL < 1.4 mmol/L in very high risk.

  • Heart transplant (end‑stage)

    For ischaemic cardiomyopathy with refractory heart failure - assessed via a specialist transplant unit.

Targets and safety

The numbers your plan should hit - honestly.

Coronary disease is a numbers game. LDL, blood pressure and HbA1c to guideline; lifestyle in place; and the newer therapies added when they earn a place.

  • LDL target: under 1.4 mmol/L

    ESC 2019/2023 target for very high risk (established CAD). Reached with a statin, ezetimibe and - when needed - a PCSK9 inhibitor or inclisiran.

  • Blood pressure: under 130/80

    For most adults with CAD. ACE inhibitor or ARB first line, with a calcium channel blocker or thiazide added as needed.

  • HbA1c: individualised, usually ≤ 53 mmol/mol

    In diabetes with CAD, SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP‑1 agonists are now preferred where affordable.

  • Aspirin - but not for everyone

    Standard after MI or stent. In primary prevention the bleeding risk often outweighs the benefit - reviewed case by case.

  • Beta‑blocker and anti‑anginals

    Beta‑blocker or calcium channel blocker first; nitrates, ranolazine and ivabradine added for persistent symptoms.

  • Mediterranean‑style diet and weight

    The pattern with the best cardiovascular evidence. Icosapent ethyl adds benefit in selected high‑triglyceride patients.

  • Smoking, sleep, exercise, alcohol

    Stopping smoking is the single biggest step. 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise. Screen for sleep apnoea.

  • Emerging: colchicine, siRNA, Lp(a)

    Low‑dose colchicine for residual inflammatory risk; inclisiran for LDL; Lp(a)‑lowering therapies now in phase III.

  • Red flags

    New rest pain, pain lasting more than 15 minutes, breathlessness with sweating, or stent‑era chest pain - 999.

Reading your treatment plan

Your plan in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever cardiologist writes it, the plan you leave with keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant cardiologist reviewing a patient’s treatment plan

A quiet reminder

Cardiology language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the plan before your follow‑up, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Diagnosis and risk category

    Chronic coronary syndrome, ACS, post‑MI or post‑revascularisation - and the risk group that decides your targets.

  2. 02 Targets

    LDL, BP, HbA1c and lifestyle targets

    The specific numbers to aim for, and the drug and non‑drug steps to get you there.

  3. 03 Plan

    Drugs, rehab and next imaging

    The medication list, the rehab referral, and when the next lipids, echo or angiogram is due.

  4. 04 Impression

    What to watch for, when to call

    Read this first: the symptoms that mean call the clinic, and the ones that mean 999.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Cover for coronary artery disease treatment varies by insurer and by plan - most fund consultation, imaging, revascularisation and rehab; some restrict advanced lipid therapies.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about coronary artery disease treatment.

Quick answers on drugs, targets, stents vs bypass, cardiac rehab, and when to call 999.

  • Can coronary artery disease actually be reversed or is it just managed for life?

    It isn’t cured, but with the right treatment it can be stopped in its tracks and, in some patients, the plaque genuinely regresses. The interventions with the strongest evidence are aggressive LDL lowering (often to under 1.4 mmol/L), tight blood-pressure control, no smoking, Mediterranean-style eating and structured exercise - and any good London cardiologist will build this plan alongside any stenting or bypass decision, not instead of it.

  • Do I need a stent, or is medication enough?

    For most people with stable angina, optimal medical therapy is at least as good as a stent for preventing heart attacks and death. PCI is chosen mainly for symptom control, acute coronary syndromes, and specific anatomy such as left‑main disease.

  • When is bypass surgery better than stenting?

    CABG is generally preferred for left‑main disease, complex three‑vessel disease, and in patients with diabetes and reduced left ventricular function. A heart team meeting decides on a case‑by‑case basis.

  • What should my LDL cholesterol be?

    ESC 2019/2023 guidance is an LDL below 1.4 mmol/L for very high risk patients - that includes anyone with established coronary disease. If a high‑intensity statin plus ezetimibe does not reach that, a PCSK9 inhibitor or inclisiran is added.

  • What are PCSK9 inhibitors and inclisiran?

    PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies (evolocumab, alirocumab) are fortnightly injections that lower LDL by around 60% on top of a statin. Inclisiran is a small interfering RNA given twice a year with similar LDL reduction.

  • What is Lp(a) and why does it matter?

    Lipoprotein(a) is a largely genetic driver of coronary disease. Levels above 200 nmol/L (~90 mg/dL) roughly double lifetime risk. Statins do not lower it much; several targeted RNA therapies are in late‑stage trials.

  • Do SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP‑1 agonists help even without diabetes?

    In heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, SGLT2 inhibitors help regardless of diabetes. GLP‑1 agonists (semaglutide) also lower cardiovascular events in patients with established CAD and obesity, per the SELECT trial.

  • Is cardiac rehab really worth the time?

    Yes - it lowers mortality by around 20% after MI and improves symptoms and quality of life. It is one of the most under‑used, high‑value treatments in medicine.

  • When should I call 999 rather than the clinic?

    New chest pain at rest, pain lasting more than 15 minutes, pain with sweating, breathlessness or nausea, or any chest pain if you have a stent - treat as unstable angina or MI and call 999.

Related treatments

Looking for something else?

In practice, in London

The honest picture around coronary artery disease treatment in London

For coronary artery disease treatment, the private London route is mostly about consultant fit and hospital choice rather than raw waiting time. The wait for coronary artery disease treatment on the NHS depends heavily on where you live and how urgently the referral is graded. Central and West London private clinics can normally book within a week, with imaging or a procedure slot to follow shortly after. It’s worth being honest about the reason for going private: usually it’s time, not a fundamentally different test.

The mechanics are straightforward: a consultant appointment, any tests done at a nearby CQC-registered site, and a written report back within a few days. London’s density of private diagnostics - Marylebone, the City, Chelsea, Canary Wharf - means most patients can find something that fits around work without a cross-town trek. For coronary artery disease treatment in particular, we bias towards consultants who do this every week rather than every month.

The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.