ACE Inhibitor or ARB medications at discharge for heart attack patients

ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers)are medicines used to treat patients with heart failure and are particularly beneficial in those patients with heart failure and decreased function of the left side of the heart. Early treatment with ACE inhibitors and ARBs in patients who have heart failure symptoms or decreased heart function after a heart attack can also reduce their risk of death from future heart attacks. 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.

At SBUH, 96% of 89 eligible patients received a prescription for one of these medications when they were discharged from the hospital after a heart attack.

A high score is better than a low score.

	The SBUH 2008-2009 score is for the period October 2008 to September 2009. The SBUH 2009-20010 score is for the period October 2009 to September 2010.
	The New York State average score summarizes the average of health care organizations throughout New York State reporting to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the period October 2009 to September 2010.
	The U.S. average score summarizes the average of health care organizations throughout the United States reporting to the CMS for the period October 2009 to September 2010.
	Top 10% score summarizes results from the best 10% of health care organizations reporting to the CMS for the period October 2009 to September 2010.

See our results over time

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