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Patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fractions are less likely to die of heart failure than of other causes.

Studies comparing rates of death in patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) with those in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have produced conflicting results. The present investigators identified the causes of death — as adjudicated by an endpoints committee — of participants in I-Preserve, a randomized trial of irbesartan versus placebo in patients with HFPEF (JW Cardiol Nov 12 2008) and compared them with causes of death in other trials involving patients with HF.

In all, 881 of 4128 I-Preserve patients died during a mean follow-up of 49.5 months, with no significant difference in all-cause mortality between the two treatment groups. The causes of death also did not differ sign…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)