Volume 6, Number 2, December 2005

The Benefits of Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Multiple Co-morbidities
Erland Erdmann

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is common among the elderly, who typically suffer from multiple co-morbidities. The clinician therefore needs to consider the possibility of interaction between drugs given to treat these underlying conditions and drugs given to treat CHF. Patients who remain symptomatic despite established CHF therapy derive important clinical benefits from the addition of an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), irrespective of age, sex, ethnicity and baseline heart failure, as recognised in the recent revision of the European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the treatment of CHF. Rationalisation of concomitant therapy in accordance with guideline recommendations can help to minimise the potential for adverse effects.
This case report describes an elderly man with CHF and multiple co-morbidities who remained symptomatic despite established therapy.

JRAAS 2005;6:S11-S12.

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