What’s the Prognosis for Elders with HF or LVSD After MI?

In the manufacturer-funded Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT), 14,703 adults with heart failure (HF) and/or left-ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) were randomized to receive valsartan, captopril, or both between12 hours and 10 days after MI (Journal Watch Cardiology Jan 9 2004). All-cause mortality was similar in all three treatment groups at a median follow-up of 2 years.

Now, investigators have analyzed outcomes by age in VALIANT. Of the participants, 3106 were age 75 or older and 383 were age 85 or older at baseline. Older patients were less likely than younger patients to receive aspirin, beta-blockers, or statins at randomization and at 3-year follow-up, although possible contraindications to nonstudy drug th…