Silver Book Fact
Over the past 15 years, three classes of drugs have reduced mortality and improved symptoms of heart failure in patients who have decreased heart muscle function. These classes of drugs are ACE inhibitors, beta adrenergic blocking agents, and aldosterone antagonists. They each decrease mortality per year by 10-40%, and the beneficial effects of each agent have appeared in large-scale clinical trials to be additive.
Weisfeldt M, Zeiman S. Advances in the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease: One of the most important contributors to improved human survival is the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Health Aff. 2007; 26(1): 25-37. http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/26/1/25