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[Captopril in heart failure in the elderly].
L R Tamburrini1, M Di Monte, M Malagoli
1Cattedra di Geriatria, Università degli Studi di Trieste.
Minerva Medica
|July 1, 1991
Summary
Captopril effectively treats cardiac decompensation in elderly patients, improving quality of life and reducing diuretic needs. This angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor offers benefits in latent heart failure and hypertensive crises.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Cardiac decompensation is a significant health concern in the elderly population.
- Existing treatments, including digitalis, showed limited success in managing these patients.
- Elderly patients are particularly vulnerable to diuretic side effects.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of captopril in elderly patients with cardiac decompensation.
- To assess the impact of captopril on blood pressure, cardiac function, and quality of life.
- To determine the optimal use of captopril in geriatric cardiac care.
Summary:
- A six-month trial involving 20 elderly patients (mean age 72.9 years) assessed captopril's effects on cardiac decompensation.
- Patients received 25-50 mg of captopril twice daily, with digitalis as the only concomitant medication.
- Key outcomes included reduced systemic blood pressure, decreased peripheral resistance, lowered postload and ventricular filling pressures, and improved cardiac function.
Impact:
- Captopril treatment led to a stable improvement in the quality of life for all elderly participants.
- A significant reduction in diuretic use was observed, mitigating associated vulnerabilities.
- The study suggests captopril is a valuable geriatric drug for early intervention in latent cardiac insufficiency and hypertensive crises.