Extended follow-up of patients randomly assigned in the Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition Post-Revascularization Study (APRES).
BACKGROUND
We hypothesized that the benefit from ramipril on cardiac events and on left ventricular end-systolic volume (ESVI) in the Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition Post-revascularization Study (APRES) randomized controlled trial (RCT) was associated with long-term improvement.


METHODS
For the 3.2 years after the end of the RCT, we obtained information from a national database regarding date and cause of death and hospitalization for the 159 enrolled patients.


RESULTS
Assignment to ramipril in the RCT resulted in a lower rate of cardiac death or hospitalization with heart failure up to the time of complete follow-up of all patients at 4.3 years (relative risk [RR], 0.28; P =.018) and up to 1.5 years after the end of the RCT (RR, 0.35; P =.042) but not up to the complete extended follow-up time at 6.9 years (RR, 0.65; P =.27). Independent predictors for risk of future cardiac death or hospitalization with heart failure were (a) left ventricular dilation (LVD) (RR, 2.84; P =.031), defined as an increase in ESVI greater than the reproducibility coefficient, and (b) composite event of acute myocardial infarction or development of heart failure or LVD (RR, 12.44; P <.001). Ramipril significantly reduced events (a) (P =.046) and (b) (P =.015) during the RCT.


CONCLUSIONS
There is congruence between the beneficial effect of ramipril on LVD, acute myocardial infarction, or heart failure and the prognostic importance of these factors and on cardiac death and hospitalization with heart failure. This observation supports and reinforces conclusions from previous APRES reports that ramipril benefits non-high-risk patients after revascularization.
Kjøller-Hansen
Lars
L
Heart Center, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. kjol-h@dadlnet.dk
Steffensen
Rolf
R
Grande
Peer
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D017257:Ramipril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012306:Risk; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D017257:Ramipril