Eplerenone Survival Benefits in Heart Failure Patients Post-Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (≤40%) and/or signs of clinical heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are associated with a relatively high incidence of mortality and hospitalization for heart failure. The potential of eplerenone to impact on mortality and morbidity of post-infarction heart failure patients was the subject of the EPHESUS trial (Eplerenone Post-Acute Myocardial Infarction Heart Failure Efficacy and Survival Study). That trial concluded that eplerenone reduced total mortality by 31%, cardiovascular mortality by 32% and sudden cardiac death by 37% within 30 days of randomization after AMI. Risk reduction in mortality with eplerenone seemed to occur as early as 10 days after randomization and continued through the end of the study. In conclusion, eplerenone improves survival in heart failure patients post-AMI.