2024
Torsemide vs Furosemide Among Patients With New-Onset vs Worsening Chronic Heart Failure
Krim S, Anand S, Greene S, Chen A, Wojdyla D, Vilaro J, Haught H, Herre J, Eisenstein E, Anstrom K, Pitt B, Velazquez E, Mentz R. Torsemide vs Furosemide Among Patients With New-Onset vs Worsening Chronic Heart Failure. JAMA Cardiology 2024, 9: 182-188. PMID: 37955908, PMCID: PMC10644243, DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2023.4776.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDe novo heart failureNovo heart failureChronic heart failureHeart failurePatient-reported outcomesCause mortalityHF typeKansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire clinical summary scoreHigher glomerular filtration rateSignificant differencesHeart Failure TrialGlomerular filtration rateClinical summary scoreDiuretic strategyFirst rehospitalizationCause hospitalizationNew onsetTotal hospitalizationsClinical characteristicsClinical profileEjection fractionLoop diureticsFailure TrialHospitalization outcomesNatriuretic peptide
2021
Optimal medical therapy with or without surgical revascularization and long-term outcomes in ischemic cardiomyopathy
Farsky PS, White J, Al-Khalidi HR, Sueta CA, Rouleau J, Panza J, Velazquez E, O'Connor C, Investigators W, Dabrowski R, Djokovic L, Drazner M, Haddad H, Ali I, Keltai M, Naik A, Sopko G, Golba K, Andersson B, Carson P, Kukulski T. Optimal medical therapy with or without surgical revascularization and long-term outcomes in ischemic cardiomyopathy. Journal Of Thoracic And Cardiovascular Surgery 2021, 164: 1890-1899.e4. PMID: 33610365, PMCID: PMC8260609, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.12.094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOptimal medical therapyCoronary artery bypassMedical therapyArtery bypassIschemic cardiomyopathyCause mortalityIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialVentricular ejection fraction 35Improved long-term survivalEjection fraction 35Angiotensin receptor blockersHeart Failure TrialLower cardiovascular mortalityMultivariable Cox modelOutcomes of patientsVentricular ejection fractionCoronary artery diseaseLong-term outcomesLong-term survivalSurgical revascularizationReceptor blockersCardiovascular mortalityAntiplatelet drugsArtery diseaseEjection fraction
2017
Impact of Intubation Time on Survival following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Insights from the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) Trial
Bouabdallaoui N, Stevens SR, Doenst T, Wrobel K, Bouchard D, Deja MA, Michler RE, Chua YL, Kalil RAK, Selzman CH, Daly RC, Sun B, Djokovic LT, Sopko G, Velazquez EJ, Rouleau JL, Lee KL, Al-Khalidi HR, Investigators F. Impact of Intubation Time on Survival following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Insights from the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) Trial. Journal Of Cardiothoracic And Vascular Anesthesia 2017, 32: 1256-1263. PMID: 29422280, PMCID: PMC6517319, DOI: 10.1053/j.jvca.2017.12.038.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCoronary artery bypassIntubation timeArtery bypassSurgical treatmentRisk factorsNew York Heart Association classMultivariable Cox proportional hazards modelsIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialPrevious coronary artery bypassMultivariable logistic regression modelCox proportional hazards modelPostoperative intubation timeHeart Failure TrialSystolic volume indexIschemic heart failureMitral valve proceduresIdentification of patientsMortality risk factorsStrong independent predictorProportional hazards modelStrongest predictorLogistic regression modelsPostoperative mortalitySTICH trialPerioperative factorsSudden cardiac death after acute heart failure hospital admission: insights from ASCEND‐HF
Pokorney SD, Al‐Khatib S, Sun J, Schulte P, O'Connor CM, Teerlink JR, Armstrong PW, Ezekowitz JA, Starling RC, Voors AA, Velazquez EJ, Hernandez AF, Mentz RJ. Sudden cardiac death after acute heart failure hospital admission: insights from ASCEND‐HF. European Journal Of Heart Failure 2017, 20: 525-532. PMID: 29266564, DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.1078.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSudden cardiac deathVT/VFHeart failure hospital admissionsAcute HFCardiac deathHospital admissionVentricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillationDecompensated Heart Failure (ASCEND-HF) trialChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseVT/VF eventsEvent ratesComposite event rateMeier event ratesHeart Failure TrialCause mortality ratesDay of admissionObstructive pulmonary diseaseLonger QRS durationCause mortalityBaseline characteristicsComposite endpointEjection fractionPulmonary diseaseASCEND-HFFailure TrialValue of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Derived Baseline Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Volumes for Precise Risk Stratification of Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Insights From the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) Trial
Pai RG, Varadarajan P, Rouleau JL, Stebbins AL, Velazquez EJ, Al-Khalidi HR, Pohost GM. Value of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Derived Baseline Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Volumes for Precise Risk Stratification of Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Insights From the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) Trial. JAMA Cardiology 2017, 2: 577-579. PMID: 28199489, PMCID: PMC5814980, DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2016.5492.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedCardiac Surgical ProceduresCardiomyopathiesFemaleHeart FailureHeart VentriclesHumansKaplan-Meier EstimateMagnetic Resonance ImagingMagnetic Resonance Imaging, CineMaleMiddle AgedMortalityMultivariate AnalysisMyocardial IschemiaOrgan SizePlastic Surgery ProceduresRisk AssessmentStroke VolumeConceptsIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialCardiovascular magnetic resonance imagingHeart Failure TrialVentricular ejection fractionPrecise risk stratificationMagnetic resonance imagingEjection fractionIschemic cardiomyopathySurgical treatmentFailure TrialRisk stratificationResonance imagingPatientsCardiomyopathyBaselineTrials
2016
Getting to a Man's Heart through His Colon
Samsky MD, DeVore AD, Durkin M, Stout JE, Velazquez EJ, Milano CA. Getting to a Man's Heart through His Colon. Texas Heart Institute Journal 2016, 43: 168-70. PMID: 27127437, PMCID: PMC4845564, DOI: 10.14503/thij-14-4946.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLeft ventricular pseudoaneurysmVentricular pseudoaneurysmDor procedureVentricular apexIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialHeart Failure TrialCoronary artery bypassAnterior chest wallLeft ventricular apexLeft ventricular cavityDifficile bacteremiaSTICH trialArtery bypassPulsatile massTransthoracic echocardiogramDacron patchIschemic cardiomyopathySurgical explorationSurgical treatmentFailure TrialHemorrhagic shockPurulent materialThoracotomy siteChest wallPericardial space
2015
Comparison of Transesophageal and Transthoracic Echocardiographic Measurements of Mechanism and Severity of Mitral Regurgitation in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (from the Surgical Treatment of Ischemic Heart Failure Trial)
Grayburn PA, She L, Roberts BJ, Golba KS, Mokrzycki K, Drozdz J, Cherniavsky A, Przybylski R, Wrobel K, Asch FM, Holly TA, Haddad H, Yii M, Maurer G, Kron I, Schaff H, Velazquez EJ, Oh JK. Comparison of Transesophageal and Transthoracic Echocardiographic Measurements of Mechanism and Severity of Mitral Regurgitation in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (from the Surgical Treatment of Ischemic Heart Failure Trial). The American Journal Of Cardiology 2015, 116: 913-918. PMID: 26170249, PMCID: PMC4554976, DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2015.06.015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransesophageal echocardiographyMitral regurgitationIschemic cardiomyopathyMR gradeIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialMechanism of MRBaseline transesophageal echocardiographyHeart Failure TrialIndependent core laboratoryIschemic heart diseaseFunctional mitral regurgitationComparison of TransesophagealMitral annular diameterModest correlationMitral annulus diameterTransthoracic echocardiographic measurementsTransthoracic echocardiography imagingTenting areaBlood pressureSurgical treatmentFailure TrialEchocardiographic measurementsHeart diseaseTTE measurementsAnnulus diameterClinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without diabetes in the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial
MacDonald MR, She L, Doenst T, Binkley PF, Rouleau JL, Tan R, Lee KL, Miller AB, Sopko G, Szalewska D, Waclawiw MA, Dabrowski R, Castelvecchio S, Adlbrecht C, Michler RE, Oh JK, Velazquez EJ, Petrie MC. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without diabetes in the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial. European Journal Of Heart Failure 2015, 17: 725-734. PMID: 26011509, PMCID: PMC4668269, DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.288.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialHeart Failure TrialDiabetes mellitusMedical therapyHigher LVEFSTICH trialCABG groupPrimary outcomeSurgical treatmentFailure TrialMED groupSmaller left ventricular volumesOptimal medical therapyTriple-vessel CADCoronary artery bypassOutcomes of patientsTriple vessel diseaseLeft ventricular volumeVessel CADArtery bypassCause mortalityClinical characteristicsClinical outcomesVessel diseaseCABGImpact of surgical ventricular reconstruction on sphericity index in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy: follow‐up from the STICH trial
Choi J, Daly RC, Lin G, Lahr BD, Wiste HJ, Beaver TM, Iacovoni A, Malinowski M, Friedrich I, Rouleau JL, Favaloro RR, Sopko G, Lang IM, White HD, Milano CA, Jones RH, Lee KL, Velazquez EJ, Oh JK. Impact of surgical ventricular reconstruction on sphericity index in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy: follow‐up from the STICH trial. European Journal Of Heart Failure 2015, 17: 453-463. PMID: 25779355, PMCID: PMC4664050, DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.256.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSurgical ventricular reconstructionSVR groupSphericity indexVentricular reconstructionTreatment strategiesCoronary artery bypass graft surgeryIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialArtery bypass graft surgeryLV end-systolic volumeBypass graft surgeryHeart Failure TrialLV filling pressureEnd-systolic volumeIschemic cardiomyopathy patientsSmaller LV volumesLower sphericity indexImproved LVEFSTICH trialGraft surgeryWorse survivalIschemic cardiomyopathySurgical treatmentClinical outcomesFailure TrialMitral regurgitationGenetic Variants Are Not Associated with Outcome in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Left Ventricular Dysfunction: Results of the Genetic Substudy of the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) Trials
Feldman AM, She L, McNamara DM, Mann DL, Bristow MR, Maisel AS, Wagner DR, Andersson B, Chiariello L, Hayward CS, Hendry P, Parker JD, Racine N, Selzman CH, Senni M, Stepinska J, Zembala M, Rouleau J, Velazquez EJ, Lee KL. Genetic Variants Are Not Associated with Outcome in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Left Ventricular Dysfunction: Results of the Genetic Substudy of the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) Trials. Cardiology 2015, 130: 69-81. PMID: 25592552, PMCID: PMC4367125, DOI: 10.1159/000368221.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialHeart Failure TrialSurgical treatmentFailure TrialGenetic substudyGenetic variantsCombination of deathCoronary artery bypassHeart failure populationCoronary artery diseaseLeft ventricular reconstructionPrognostic clinical variablesΒ2-adrenergic receptor geneReceptor geneArtery bypassVentricular dysfunctionCause mortalityMultivariable adjustmentArtery diseaseCardiovascular hospitalizationMedical therapyMultivariable analysisPrognostic significanceClinical variablesVentricular reconstruction
2014
Myocardial viability and impact of surgical ventricular reconstruction on outcomes of patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: Results of the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure trial
Holly TA, Bonow RO, Arnold JM, Oh JK, Varadarajan P, Pohost GM, Haddad H, Jones RH, Velazquez EJ, Birkenfeld B, Asch FM, Malinowski M, Barretto R, Kalil RA, Berman DS, Sun JL, Lee KL, Panza JA. Myocardial viability and impact of surgical ventricular reconstruction on outcomes of patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: Results of the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure trial. Journal Of Thoracic And Cardiovascular Surgery 2014, 148: 2677-2684.e1. PMID: 25152476, PMCID: PMC4250319, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2014.06.090.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedCardiomyopathiesCoronary Artery BypassCoronary Artery DiseaseFemaleHeart FailureHumansKaplan-Meier EstimateMaleMiddle AgedMyocardiumPlastic Surgery ProceduresPredictive Value of TestsProportional Hazards ModelsSeverity of Illness IndexTime FactorsTissue SurvivalTomography, Emission-Computed, Single-PhotonTreatment OutcomeVentricular Dysfunction, LeftVentricular Function, LeftConceptsSurgical ventricular reconstructionCoronary artery bypass graft surgeryIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialArtery bypass graft surgeryCoronary artery bypass surgeryBypass graft surgeryHeart Failure TrialArtery bypass surgeryLeft ventricular dysfunctionCoronary artery diseaseType of surgeryCardiac hospitalizationVentricular reconstructionVentricular dysfunctionMyocardial viabilitySurgical treatmentGraft surgeryBypass surgeryArtery diseaseFailure TrialSevere regional left ventricular dysfunctionSevere left ventricular dysfunctionRegional left ventricular dysfunctionOutcomes of patientsIschemic heart failure
2013
Mechanisms of Functional Mitral Regurgitation in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Determined by Transesophageal Echocardiography (from the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure Trial)
Golba K, Mokrzycki K, Drozdz J, Cherniavsky A, Wrobel K, Roberts BJ, Haddad H, Maurer G, Yii M, Asch FM, Handschumacher MD, Holly TA, Przybylski R, Kron I, Schaff H, Aston S, Horton J, Lee KL, Velazquez EJ, Grayburn PA, Investigators S. Mechanisms of Functional Mitral Regurgitation in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Determined by Transesophageal Echocardiography (from the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure Trial). The American Journal Of Cardiology 2013, 112: 1812-1818. PMID: 24035166, PMCID: PMC3830629, DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2013.07.047.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEnd-systolic volume indexLV end-systolic volume indexFunctional mitral regurgitationLV ejection fractionSeverity of MRMitral regurgitationVolume indexTenting areaIschemic cardiomyopathyMR gradeAnnulus areaVentricular end-systolic volume indexIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialSphericity indexHeart Failure TrialEffective regurgitant orifice areaPosterior leaflet angleMitral annulus areaMitral annulus diameterRegurgitant orifice areaSTICH trialSurgical treatmentEjection fractionFailure TrialTransesophageal echocardiographyPrognostic Significance of Biomarkers in Predicting Outcome in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Feldman AM, Mann DL, She L, Bristow MR, Maisel AS, McNamara DM, Walsh R, Lee DL, Wos S, Lang I, Wells G, Drazner MH, Schmedtje JF, Pauly DF, Sueta CA, Di Maio M, Kron IL, Velazquez EJ, Lee KL. Prognostic Significance of Biomarkers in Predicting Outcome in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Left Ventricular Dysfunction. Circulation Heart Failure 2013, 6: 461-472. PMID: 23584092, PMCID: PMC3905743, DOI: 10.1161/circheartfailure.112.000185.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCoronary artery bypassPrimary end pointCoronary artery diseaseIndependent prognostic informationArtery bypassMultivariable analysisPrognostic informationSTNFR-1Artery diseaseClinical factorsPlasma levelsUnivariate analysisIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialEnd pointSoluble tumor necrosisHeart Failure TrialLeft ventricular reconstructionPrimary outcome variableNet reclassification improvementAbility of biomarkersSubstudy patientsVentricular dysfunctionCardiac hospitalizationBiomarker substudyHeart failureInfluence of Crossover on Mortality in a Randomized Study of Revascularization in Patients With Systolic Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease
Doenst T, Cleland JG, Rouleau JL, She L, Wos S, Ohman EM, Krzeminska-Pakula M, Airan B, Jones RH, Siepe M, Sopko G, Velazquez EJ, Racine N, Gullestad L, Filgueira JL, Lee KL. Influence of Crossover on Mortality in a Randomized Study of Revascularization in Patients With Systolic Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease. Circulation Heart Failure 2013, 6: 443-450. PMID: 23515275, PMCID: PMC3721746, DOI: 10.1161/circheartfailure.112.000130.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHeart failureCoronary artery bypass graft surgeryIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialPatient/family decisionArtery bypass graft surgeryImpact of CABGBypass graft surgeryHeart Failure TrialMultivariable Cox modelSystolic heart failureCoronary artery diseaseIschemic heart diseaseAcute decompensationGraft surgeryProgressive symptomsArtery diseaseMedical therapySurgical treatmentFailure TrialPatient populationHeart diseaseCABGCommon reasonCox modelPatients
2012
Influence of baseline left ventricular function on the clinical outcome of surgical ventricular reconstruction in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy
Oh JK, Velazquez EJ, Menicanti L, Pohost GM, Bonow RO, Lin G, Hellkamp AS, Ferrazzi P, Wos S, Rao V, Berman D, Bochenek A, Cherniavsky A, Rogowski J, Rouleau JL, Lee KL, Investigators O. Influence of baseline left ventricular function on the clinical outcome of surgical ventricular reconstruction in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy. European Heart Journal 2012, 34: 39-47. PMID: 22584648, PMCID: PMC3533917, DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehs021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEnd-systolic volume indexSurgical ventricular reconstructionRegional wall motion abnormalitiesWall motion abnormalitiesEjection fractionBetter LVEFIschemic cardiomyopathyVentricular reconstructionMotion abnormalitiesLV end-systolic volume indexMedian end-systolic volume indexBaseline left ventricular functionIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialEnd-diastolic volume indexVolume indexBaseline LV functionCoronary artery bypassHeart Failure TrialLeft ventricular functionClinical trial registrationLeft ventricular function parametersLV global functionVentricular function parametersCardiovascular magnetic resonanceML/m2Influence of Mitral Regurgitation Repair on Survival in the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure Trial
Deja MA, Grayburn PA, Sun B, Rao V, She L, Krejca M, Jain AR, Chua Y, Daly R, Senni M, Mokrzycki K, Menicanti L, Oh JK, Michler R, Wróbel K, Lamy A, Velazquez EJ, Lee KL, Jones RH. Influence of Mitral Regurgitation Repair on Survival in the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure Trial. Circulation 2012, 125: 2639-2648. PMID: 22553307, PMCID: PMC3776601, DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.111.072256.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSevere mitral regurgitationMild mitral regurgitationMitral regurgitationMitral valve repairTrace mitral regurgitationMitral surgeryMedical therapyValve repairIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialCoronary artery bypassHeart Failure TrialPrimary end pointLeft ventricular dysfunctionCoronary artery diseaseModerate mitral regurgitationBaseline prognostic variablesIschemic mitral regurgitationArtery bypassRandomized patientsVentricular dysfunctionHazard ratioArtery diseaseEjection fractionMedical armSurgical treatment
2009
Quality of life and economic outcomes with surgical ventricular reconstruction in ischemic heart failure: Results from the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure trial
Mark DB, Knight JD, Velazquez EJ, Howlett JG, Spertus JA, Djokovic LT, Harding TM, Rankin GR, Drew LA, Szygula-Jurkiewicz B, Adlbrecht C, Anstrom KJ, Investigators F. Quality of life and economic outcomes with surgical ventricular reconstruction in ischemic heart failure: Results from the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure trial. American Heart Journal 2009, 157: 837-844.e3. PMID: 19376309, PMCID: PMC2694042, DOI: 10.1016/j.ahj.2009.03.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedCoronary Artery BypassFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHealth Care CostsHeart FailureHeart VentriclesHumansMaleMiddle AgedMyocardial IschemiaPlastic Surgery ProceduresQuality of LifeRetrospective StudiesStroke VolumeSurveys and QuestionnairesTreatment OutcomeUnited StatesVentricular Function, LeftConceptsCoronary artery bypass graft surgerySurgical ventricular reconstructionIschemic heart failureQuality of lifeHeart failureVentricular reconstructionQOL measuresIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialKansas City Cardiomyopathy QuestionnaireTotal index hospitalization costsArtery bypass graft surgeryLeft ventricular ejection fractionBetter QOLIndex hospitalization costsBypass graft surgeryHeart failure symptomsHeart Failure TrialVentricular ejection fractionLeft ventricular functionHealth care costsTreatment-related differencesGraft surgeryEjection fractionSurgical treatmentVentricular function
2007
The rationale and design of the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial
Velazquez EJ, Lee KL, O’Connor C, Oh JK, Bonow RO, Pohost GM, Feldman AM, Mark DB, Panza JA, Sopko G, Rouleau JL, Jones RH, Investigators S. The rationale and design of the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial. Journal Of Thoracic And Cardiovascular Surgery 2007, 134: 1540-1547.e4. PMID: 18023680, PMCID: PMC3638867, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2007.05.069.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIschemic Heart Failure (STICH) trialCoronary artery bypassHeart Failure TrialSurgical ventricular reconstructionArtery bypassMedical therapySurgical treatmentFailure TrialVentricular reconstructionPrimary outcomeNormal left ventricular sizeIntensive medical therapyLeft ventricular dysfunctionVentricular ejection fractionCoronary artery diseaseLeft ventricular sizeLong-term survivalQuality of lifeLeft ventricular volumeCardiac causesSubsequent hospitalizationVentricular dysfunctionArtery diseaseEjection fractionHeart failure
2004
Multinational economic evaluation of valsartan in patients with chronic heart failure: results from the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT)
Reed SD, Friedman JY, Velazquez EJ, Gnanasakthy A, Califf RM, Schulman KA. Multinational economic evaluation of valsartan in patients with chronic heart failure: results from the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT). American Heart Journal 2004, 148: 122-128. PMID: 15215801, DOI: 10.1016/j.ahj.2003.12.040.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdrenergic beta-AntagonistsAgedAngiotensin II Type 1 Receptor BlockersAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAntihypertensive AgentsCost-Benefit AnalysisDrug Therapy, CombinationFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHealth Care CostsHealth ResourcesHeart FailureHospitalizationHumansMaleMiddle AgedOutcome Assessment, Health CareProportional Hazards ModelsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTetrazolesValineValsartanConceptsValsartan Heart Failure TrialHeart failure hospitalizationHeart Failure TrialHeart failureACE inhibitorsFailure hospitalizationFailure TrialNew York Heart Association class IIIncremental costChronic heart failureMean incremental costOutpatient physician servicesBackground therapyCardiovascular medicationsNet incremental costClinical benefitPrescribed therapyClinical signsAmbulance transportationPatientsUnit cost estimatesHealth outcomesPlaceboValsartanClass II