title: Meta-Analysis of effectiveness or lack thereof of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors for prevention of heart failure in patients with systemic hypertension.
abstract: We undertook a meta-analysis of large, randomized controlled trials in hypertensive subjects that compared angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors with different classes of antihypertensive drugs. Compared with subjects randomized to drugs different from ACE inhibitors, those treated with ACE inhibitors did not show a different risk of congestive heart failure (CHF) (odds ratio 1.03, 95% confidence interval 0.96 to 1.12, p = 0.407). The degree of protection from CHF associated with the use of ACE inhibitors showed a nonsignificant trend to increase with age and the degree of blood pressure control. Thus, the hypothesis that ACE inhibitors are superior to other antihypertensive drugs for prevention of CHF in hypertension remains unproven.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Disease, Hospital R. Silvestrini, Perugia, Italy
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angeli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verdecchia
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Reboldi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gattobigio
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bentivoglio
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Staessen
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Porcellati
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents