Mortality and morbidity remain high despite captopril and/or Valsartan therapy in elderly patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, heart failure, or both after acute myocardial infarction: results from the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT).
BACKGROUND
The elderly constitute an increasing proportion of acute myocardial infarction patients and have disproportionately high mortality and morbidity. Those with heart failure or impaired left ventricular left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction have high complication and mortality rates. Little is known about outcomes with contemporary therapies in these patients.


RESULTS
The Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT) randomized 14,703 patients with heart failure and/or left ventricular ejection fraction <40% to receive captopril, valsartan, or both. Mortality and a composite end point, including cardiovascular mortality, readmission for heart failure, reinfarction, stroke, and resuscitated cardiac arrest, were compared for the age groups of <65 (n=6988), 65 to 74 (n=4555), 75 to 84 (n=2777), and > or =85 (n=383) years. With increasing age, 3-year mortality almost quadrupled (13.4%, 26.3%, 36.0%, and 52.1%, respectively), composite end-point events more than doubled (25.2%, 41.0%, 52.3%, and 66.8%), and hospital admissions for heart failure almost tripled (12.0%, 23.1%, 31.3%, and 35.4%). Outcomes did not differ between the 3 study treatments in any age group. Adverse events associated with captopril and valsartan were more common in the elderly and in patients receiving combination therapy. With increasing age, use of aspirin, beta-blockers, and statins declined, and use of digoxin, calcium-channel blockers, and non-potassium-sparing diuretics increased. On 3-year multivariable analysis, each 10-year age increase was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.49 (95% CI, 1.426 to 1.557; P<0.0001) for mortality and an odds ratio of 1.38 (95% CI, 1.31 to 1.46; P<0.0001) for readmission with heart failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Outcomes remained poor in elderly patients with heart failure and/or impaired left ventricular systolic function after acute myocardial infarction, although most received beta-blockers and all received an ACE inhibitor and/or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Better therapies and increased use of aspirin, beta-blockers, and statins are needed in this important and increasing patient group.
White
Harvey D
HD
Green Lane Cardiovascular Service, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. HarveyW@adhb.govt.nz
Aylward
Philip E G
PE
Huang
Zhen
Z
Dalby
Anthony J
AJ
Weaver
W Douglas
WD
Barvik
Ståle
S
Marin-Neto
José Antonio
JA
Murin
Jan
J
Nordlander
Rolf O
RO
van Gilst
Wiek H
WH
Zannad
Faiez
F
McMurray
John J V
JJ
Califf
Robert M
RM
Pfeffer
Marc A
MA
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002216:Captopril / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013599:Systole; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000068756:Valsartan; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000188:drug therapy
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000068756:Valsartan; D002216:Captopril; D014633:Valine