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Candesartan cilexetil in the treatment of chronic heart failure

Jean-Philippe Baguet1, Gilles Barone-Rochette, Yannick Neuder

  • 1Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Grenoble, France. jpbaguet@chu-grenoble.fr

Vascular Health and Risk Management
|May 14, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Candesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), significantly reduces cardiovascular death and hospitalizations in chronic heart failure patients. This ARB offers a beneficial treatment option, especially when other therapies are not tolerated.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Heart failure prevalence is rising globally, particularly in aging populations.
  • Despite treatment advances, heart failure prognosis remains poor.
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta-blockers are standard chronic heart failure treatments, with Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) as an alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of candesartan, a specific ARB, in managing chronic heart failure.
  • To assess candesartan's impact on cardiovascular mortality, hospital admissions, and overall mortality in heart failure patients.

Main Methods:

  • The study references the CHARM programme, which investigated candesartan's effects in chronic heart failure.
  • Patients included had altered left ventricular systolic function.
  • Candesartan was administered as an add-on therapy or alternative to ACE inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • Candesartan significantly reduced cardiovascular death and hospital admissions for decompensated heart failure.
  • The drug also decreased all-cause mortality in the studied population.
  • Additional benefits included protection against myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes.

Conclusions:

  • Candesartan is an effective treatment for chronic heart failure with impaired left ventricular systolic function.
  • It offers significant benefits in reducing mortality and hospitalizations, with good tolerance.
  • Monitoring of blood pressure and serum electrolytes/creatinine is recommended during treatment.

Keywords:
angiotensin II receptor blockerscandesartanchronic heart failureleft ventricular systolic function

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