Effects of nitrates on mortality in acute myocardial infarction and in heart failure.
1. Seven randomized controlled trials of intravenous nitroglycerin in a total of about 850 patients have been reported. Overall, there were 51 deaths (12.5%) in the nitroglycerin group and 87 (20%) in the control group. This indicates a 48% reduction in the odds of death (P less than 0.001, 95% confidence limits (25% to 64%)). 2. There are five randomized trials of oral nitrates after acute myocardial infarction. In these trials, 11.8% of the patients in the nitrate group compared with 13.3% in the control group died. This indicates a nonsignificant 12% reduction in the odds of death but the 95% confidence interval overlaps widely with the i.v. trials. If all trials of i.v. or oral nitrates are considered the reduction in the odds of death is 32% (P less than 0.01). 3. Nitrates have a beneficial effect on haemodynamics in heart failure but the data on mortality effects are sparse. In combination with hydralazine, however, long-term mortality was reduced in the V-HEFT trial of chronic heart failure.
Held
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University of Göteborg, Department of Medicine, Ostra Hospital, Sweden.
D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D009566:Nitrates