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Baseline demographics of the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial
Author(s) -
Cohn Jay N.,
Togi Gianni,
Glazer Robert,
Spormann Dirk
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1016/s1388-9842(00)00130-6
Subject(s) - medicine , valsartan , heart failure , ejection fraction , digoxin , population , cardiology , randomized controlled trial , placebo , angiotensin receptor , angiotensin ii , blood pressure , alternative medicine , environmental health , pathology
Background 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. Aims Baseline characteristics of patients in Val‐HeFT are presented and compared with other major clinical trials in heart failure. Methods Baseline data were collected and summary statistics calculated. Results The study population has a mean age of 62.7 years and is 80% male, 90.3% white, 6.9% black, and 2.8% Asian. Antecedent coronary heart disease is reported in 57.2% of patients. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors are prescribed for 92.7% of patients, diuretics for 85.8%, digoxin for 67.3%, and β‐blockers for 35.6%. Subgroup comparisons by age, sex, race and ejection fraction quartile show small differences in baseline characteristics. Conclusion Overall the Val‐HeFT population is generally representative of the population of patients with mild to moderate heart failure in industrialized countries.