Reasons for underuse of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction.
We reviewed the records of 242 patients admitted over 1 year with heart failure and an ejection fraction < or = 45% to assess the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Most patients were treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. However, an important minority (8%) had no apparent reason for the lack of this treatment, highlighting the need for strategies to increase the use of these beneficial agents.
Bart
B A
BA
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Gattis
W A
WA
Diem
S J
SJ
O'Connor
C M
CM
D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000075202:Contraindications; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors