A comparison between Captopril, Valsartan, Carvedilol and Conventional therapy in the treatment of heart failure

Abstract

A comparison was done between captopril, valsartan, carvedilol & the conventional therapy in patientswith heart failure. The difference was reflected on the survival rate and hospital admissions.Eighty patients were enrolled in this study, all were diagnosed as having heart failure (Class I – IV).They were grouped into four groups each consisted of 20 patients.group I were given captopril 25mg twice daily,group II were given valsartan 80mg once daily,group III had carvedilol 12.5mg twice daily, and group IV were given the conventional therapy(digoxin, diuretics, nitrates …. etc.).Blood pressure and heart rate were checked at baseline (before treatment) & after one and two monthsafter initiation therapy.Data were compared to those of 15 healthy & subjects included in the study as well.Results revealed that a significant (p<0.05) reduction in blood pressure was noticed for the fourgroups. The heart rate was increased significantly (p<0.05) in the captopril & valsartan groups aftertwo months while decreased significantly following carvedilol & conventional treatment.As a whole, a high percentage of improvement in the functional class of NYHA was found in thevalsartan (80%) & the carvedilol (70%) groups, as no health deterioration was noticed in any of thesetwo groups & no one died.