Mechanism of death in heart failure : the vasodilator-heart failure trials

Abstract

The vasodilator-heart failure trial (V-HeFT) data base provides information on the mechanism of death of male veterans entered into two trials that evaluated the effect of vasodilator therapy on survival in heart failure. Men aged 18-75 years with heart failure were recruited at 13 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. In V-HeFT I, 283 of 642 (35.5%) died during follow-up (average, 2.5 years). Mechanism of death was established centrally using a standardized classification