An angiotensin-receptor blocker drug can reduce illness and mortality from heart failure, according to new research.

Heart failure is an increasing problem, owing to the aging of the population. Those affected risk repeated hospital admissions and mortality is high.

The Candesartan in Heart failure Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM) study covers three different populations with heart failure - a total of around 7,500 patients in all. The angiotensin-receptor blocker drug candesartan was compared with placebo in all groups. Overall, fewer patients given candesartan died than did those on placebo - 886 versus 945. There were fewer hospital admissions on candesartan too - 20 per cent versus 24 per cent. The study offers new hope for both survival and quality of life in heart failure.

Source

The Lancet early on-line 1st September 2003 (www.thelancet.com)