Why Is This Treatment Important?
ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) are prescribed to patients with heart failure. ACE inhibitors and ARBs work by limiting the effects of a hormone that narrows blood vessels, and may thus lower blood pressure and reduce the work the heart has to perform. Since the ways in which these two kinds of drugs work are different, your doctor will decide which drug is most appropriate for you. If you have a heart attack and/or heart failure, you should get a prescription for ACE inhibitors or ARBs if you have decreased heart function before you leave the hospital.

If you have a heart attack and/or heart failure, you should get a prescription for ACE inhibitors or ARBs if you have decreased heart function before you are discharged from the hospital.

What the Scores Mean
High scores are good because it indicates that more patients received the recommended treatment. Low scores may not indicate poor care, the overall quality of a facility in addition to individual category scores should be considered.

Percent of Heart Failure Patients Given ACE Inhibitor or ARB for
Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)
March 2008 through April 2009

The data on this site is reported to the Department of Health and Human Services and is updated on a quarterly basis. The explanation of the data is courtesy of the Department of Health and Human Services. For more information, please visit the Hospital Compare website.