Aims: It is unclear whether prevention of congestive heart failure (CHF) by drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) occurs over and beyond the reduction in blood pressure (BP) achieved by these drugs.
Methods and results: We conducted a meta-analysis of trials comparing angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), or calcium-channel blockers (CCBs), with diuretics, beta-blockers, or placebo in hypertensive or high-risk subjects without CHF at entry. Both fixed- and random-effect models were used. In trials vs. placebo, the risk of CHF was reduced by 21% with ACEIs (P = 0.007), whereas the effect of ARBs and CCBs was not significant (random-effect models). Thus, CCBs did not increase the risk of CHF. In trials vs. diuretics/beta-blockers, no differences were found between ACEIs and comparators [odds ratio (OR) 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-1.24], whereas CCBs were associated with an 18% higher risk of CHF (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.00-1.39; P = 0.048). Therefore, ACEIs were not superior to diuretics/beta-blockers for the prevention of CHF. Because heterogeneity between trials was significant, we investigated potential sources of heterogeneity by meta-regression. The risk of CHF decreased by 24% (P < 0.001) for each 5 mmHg reduction in systolic BP. The risk of CHF was 19% less with ACEIs/ARBs than CCBs (P < 0.001) and 16% less in studies without multiple risk factors required for entry (P = 0.009).
Conclusion: BP reduction is beneficial for the prevention of CHF. Over and beyond BP reduction, the protective effect of ACEIs and ARBs is greater than that of CCBs.