In a nutshell
This paper studied the effect of loop diuretics in patients with suspected coronary artery disease but without heart failure.
Some background
Loop diuretics are widely used drugs used to treat short- and long-term heart failure (when the heart doesn't pump blood as it should). Loop diuretics work by reducing fluid levels in the body.
Coronary artery disease occurs when there is a build-up of a substance called plaque in the blood vessels. This obstructs blood flow and can increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Some patients with coronary artery disease receive loop diuretics. The impact of loop diuretics on patients who do not have heart failure is not well known.
Methods & findings
307 patients with suspected coronary artery disease but no heart failure were studied. 109 patients had received loop diuretics while 198 patients did not.
During an average 10.1 years, 37.6% of patients who received loop diuretics died. 23.7% of patients who did not receive loop diuretics died. Patients who received loop diuretics were 1.82 times more at risk of death overall.
15.6% patients who used loop diuretics died from heart related causes. 11.6% of patients who did not use loop diuretics died from heart related causes. Patients who received loop diuretics were 1.55 times more at risk of death from heart related causes than patients who did not receive loop diuretics. Patients who received loop diuretics were 2.07 times more at risk of death from non-heart related causes than patients who did not receive loop diuretics.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that in patients with suspected coronary artery disease but without heart failure, use of loop diuretics is associated with a higher mortality risk.
What’s next?
Talk to your doctor about recommended treatment for coronary artery disease.
Published By :
PLOS ONE
Date :
Jun 01, 2015
