Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med. 2004 Dec;6(6):499-507. doi: 10.1007/s11936-004-0007-6.
Current treatment options in cardiovascular medicine
Allison M Pritchett, Douglas L Mann
PMID: 15496267 DOI: 10.1007/s11936-004-0007-6
Guidelines for heart failure management have been published by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association in 2001. These guidelines recommend the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta blockers to improve the symptoms and prognosis of heart failure. Despite being advocated as the cornerstone of medical management, these agents remain underutilized. Not only are these drugs underutilized, but titration to dosages with proven beneficial effects is lacking. Simply achieving widespread usage of these agents would have a significant impact on heart failure outcomes.