Effect of candesartan on New York Heart Association functional class. Results of the Candesartan in Heart failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM) programme

• AIMS: To evaluate the effect of the angiotensin receptor blocker candesartan on New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class in a broad spectrum of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients in the CHARM Programme with symptomatic CHF were randomized to placebo (n=3796) or candesartan (n=3803) and followed for a median of 38 months. NYHA class was assessed at baseline, at two weekly intervals during dose titration and 4 monthly thereafter. Patients were classified as "better", "unchanged" or "worse" at the end of the study compared to baseline. Both a simple "last visit carried forward" (LVCF) analysis and "worst rank carried forward" (WRCF) analysis (where patients who died were allocated NYHA class V) were used. In the LVCF analysis, compared to placebo, more candesartan patients improved (35.4% versus 32.5%) and fewer worsened (9.0% versus 10.3%) in NYHA class (p=0.003). The WRCF analysis also showed a better overall change in NYHA class with candesartan compared to placebo. There was no heterogeneity in the response to candesartan between the CHARM component trials. CONCLUSIONS: Candesartan improves NYHA functional class to a similar extent to other proven treatments for CHF when added to these other treatments.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adult

Aged

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/*therapeutic use

Benzimidazoles/*therapeutic use

Female

Heart Failure

Congestive/*drug therapy/mortality

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Tetrazoles/*therapeutic use

Treatment Outcome

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)