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The article informs that the cause of mortality was reduced more with candesartan than with placebo, mainly because of fewer cardiovascular deaths. Fewer patients who received candesartan had the composite outcome of cardiovascular death or hospital admission for chronic heart failure (CHF) than did patients who received placebo in the CHARM-Added and CHARM-Alternative component trials. In patients with CHF, the angiotensin receptor blocker candesartan reduced mortality and hospital admissions for worsening CHF. Patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with or without baseline angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor treatment showed the most benefit.

The article comments on a study by W. Marz, et. al. on the relationship between N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and risk of cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). According to the author, the study results extend the prognostic use of NT-proBNP and may improve risk stratification in patients with CAD.