European journal of heart failure
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Dec 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialBaseline demographics of the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial. Val-HeFT Investigators.
The Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT) is the first large-scale randomized, multinational clinical study to assess the efficacy and safety of valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, added to conventional therapy, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, in heart failure patients. A total of 5010 patients with an ejection fraction <40% have been randomized to either valsartan titrated to 160 mg b.i.d. or to placebo. ⋯ Overall the Val-HeFT population is generally representative of the population of patients with mild to moderate heart failure in industrialized countries.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Dec 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffect of beta 1 blockade with atenolol on progression of heart failure in patients pretreated with high-dose enalapril.
The survival benefit of beta-blocker treatment in patients with heart failure has been established in recent trials. Yet, the impact of beta-blockers added on high dose angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors has not been reported. ⋯ The data suggest that in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction, beta-blockers can provide substantial benefits supplementary to that already achieved with high dose enalapril treatment.