Baseline demographics of the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial. Val-HeFT Investigators.
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.


OBJECTIVE
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 beta-blockers for 35.6%. Subgroup comparisons by age, sex, race and ejection fraction quartile show small differences in baseline characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall the Val-HeFT population is generally representative of the population of patients with mild to moderate heart failure in industrialized countries.
Cohn
J N
JN
University of Minnesota Medical School, Box 508, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. cohnx001@tc.umn.edu
Tognoni
G
G
Glazer
R
R
Spormann
D
D
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068756:Valsartan
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine