title: Prevention of heart failure.
abstract: In light of the increasing prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of heart failure, preventative strategies are urgently needed. Risk factors include coronary artery disease, renal insufficiency, diabetes, and smoking. Essential strategies for prevention of heart failure are modification of risk factors for its development, and detection and treatment of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction (ALVD). In patients with ALVD, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and beta-blocker therapy can prevent progression to symptomatic heart failure. Additional recently identified preventative strategies include ACE inhibitor therapy for all coronary artery disease and diabetic patients, clopidogrel therapy in acute coronary syndromes, and avoidance of calcium channel blockers and alpha-blockers as first-line antihypertensive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center, Division of Cardiology, 47-123 CHS, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA.
authors.forename: Tamara B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Horwich
authors.forename: Gregg C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fonarow
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D018450:Disease Progression; D015438:Health Behavior; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine