Copyright © 1994 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1994 The European Society of Cardiology
Uniformity of captopril benefit in the SAVE study: subgroup analysis
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cardiovascular Division Boston, MA, U.S.A.
Correspondence: Marc A. Pfeffer, MD. PhD. Associate Professor of. Medicine. Harward .Medical School. Cardiovasular Division. Brigham and Women's Hospital. 75 Francis Street. Boston. MA 02115. U.S.A.
The Survival and Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) Study demonstrated that long-term administration of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril to recent survivors of myocardial infarction with left ventricular dysfunction resulted in a reduction in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Analysis of multiple subgroups demonstrated that baseline demongraphics (older age) and clinical characteristics (such as prior MI, history of diabetes or hypertension), that have previously been associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events, were associated with greater end point event rates in SAVE regardless of therapy assignment at the time of randomization. The effectiveness of captopril therapy in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity was examined in multiple subgroups. Although not all subgroups provided adequate statistical power, the benefits of captopril therapy were relatively uniform in the SAVE study. This indicates that the benefits were not confined to one particular subgroup and conversely that targeting of captopril therapy should be to the broadest group, as defined by SAVE entry criteria, to result in a reduction in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.
Key Words: Myocardial infarction • left ventricular function • angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition • congestive heart failure
* The investigators and institutions that participated in the SAVE Study are listed in the Appendix.