Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers and outcomes in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) and angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) are cornerstones in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection (HFrEF). However, there are limited data on their risk-benefit profile in patients with acute heart failure requiring hospitalizations.


METHODS
We did a meta-analysis pooling data from all studies examining the use of ACEi/ARB in patients hospitalized for heart failure compared to patients without ACEi/ARB use. We calculated pooled hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model.


RESULTS
Twenty-five studies were included in the meta-analysis. Continued use of ACEi/ARBs in hospitalized patients with HFrEF was associated with lower 1-year mortality risk (pooled HR 0.68 [0.60-0.77] p < 0.001) and with lower 1-6-year mortality risk in those with heart failure preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) (pooled HR 0.86 [0.78-0.94] p = 0.002). There were significant reductions in 1-year HF readmissions among hospitalized HFrEF patients (pooled HR 0.83 [0.73-0.95] p = 0.005).


CONCLUSION
Maintaining or initiating patients with HFrEF hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) on ACEi/ARB is associated with a reduce risk of mortality and 1-year admissions, but the effect size is lower among those with HFpEF with more heterogeneous outcomes.
['Pelayo|Jerald|J|0000-0002-5603-7078', 'Lo|Kevin Bryan|KB|0000-0001-7088-6677', 'Peterson|Eric|E|', 'DeFaria|Carly|C|', 'Nehvi|Atif|A|', 'Torres|Ricardo|R|', 'Maqsood|Muhammad Haisum|MH|', 'Farooq|Minaam|M|', 'Mathew|Roy O|RO|', 'Rangaswami|Janani|J|']
angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors Heart failure systematic review mortality readmission angiotensin receptor blockers meta analysis