Chronic systolic heart failure, guideline-directed medical therapy, and systemic hypotension-less pressure but maybe more risk (does this clinical scenario need more discussion?)

J Card Fail. 2009 Mar;15(2):101-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2008.07.228. Epub 2008 Aug 23.

Abstract

Many clinical trials have demonstrated the survival benefit of medication regimens that modulate the neurohormonal activation that occurs with chronic heart failure (HF). These medications, however, also commonly lower systemic blood pressure (BP). Low arterial BP in patients with chronic HF has been shown to be an independent predictor of increased mortality. Given this apparent paradox in therapeutic goals (treat aggressively but keep BP from going too low), how low should we allow systemic BP to go as a result of our medication regimens before we compromise the proven benefits of such drug therapy? Or is the association between the BP-lowering effects of standard therapy and outcomes in HF even meaningful clinically? It is from this perspective that the merits, potential clinical implications, and the relevant published literature pertaining to this patient and practice management issue will be discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Cardiotonic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Heart Failure, Systolic / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure, Systolic / mortality
  • Humans
  • Hypotension / chemically induced*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Cardiotonic Agents