What benefits have been demonstrated from treatment with ACE inhibitors and ARBs?
Clinical studies have demonstrated significant reductions in the incidence of AMI, UA, and the need for coronary revascularization in patients after MI with LV dysfunction, independent of etiology. Furthermore, the HOPE study showed that compared with placebo, ramipril significantly decreased the primary composite endpoint of cardiovascular death, AMI, and stroke by 22%. In addition, the MICRO-HOPE study showed, in middle-aged patients with diabetes mellitus who were at high risk for cardiovascular events, significant reductions in MI by 22%, stroke by 33%, cardiovascular death by 37%, and the combined primary event outcome by 25%. Furthermore, the need for revascularization and incidence of worsening angina also were significantly reduced.