Continuing Progress in the Treatment of Severe Congestive Heart Failure

Abstract

Despite advances in its medical management, severe congestive heart failure remains associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Prognosis has improved only slightly during the past decade among unselected community patients with congestive heart failure. 1 It appears that the benefits documented in large randomized clinical trials have not been fully realized. Two articles in this issue of THE JOURNAL describe encouraging findings regarding 2 relatively novel therapeutic approaches for congestive heart failure: -blockers and cardiac resynchronization therapy.