Key result
ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers improve symptoms and reduce mortality in selected patients with chronic heart failure, while newer pharmacological approaches await full evaluation.
This review summarizes the established and emerging pharmacological treatments for chronic heart failure, highlighting the mortality and symptom benefits of ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers.
Reinforces ACE inhibitor and beta-blocker use in selected chronic HF patients; leaves open rigorous evaluation of newer agents.
Chronic heart failure is widely recognised as a common and escalating problem that causes major disability and often shortens life. Diuretics and digoxin have formed the mainstay of treatment for many years. Clinical trials have demonstrated that angiotensin converting enzymes and beta-blockers, in selected patients, improve symptoms and reduce mortality. Angiotensin-II antagonists and spironolactone may also have a role in certain individuals. Newer pharmacological approaches to the management of this complex disease are being developed, but await full evaluation.
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McKenzie et al. (2003) conducted a review in Chronic heart failure. Drug therapy (ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, digoxin, Angiotensin-II antagonists, spironolactone) was evaluated. ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers improve symptoms and reduce mortality in selected patients with chronic heart failure, while newer pharmacological approaches await full evaluation.
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