Percent of Heart Failure Patients Given ACE Inhibitors or ARBs for LVSD

What the graph is saying

For this measure, higher percentages are better. The graph above shows that St. John's is above the Minnesota average and St. Joseph's is consistent with top hospitals in the U.S. Woodwinds is below the Minnesota average.

You can compare all hospitals' performance at the United States Department of Health & Human Services Hospital Compare web site. Its data will be slightly older than the data reflected on the HealthEast web site.

Why is this measure important?

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.

Description above from the United States Department of Health & Human Services Hospital Compare web site: www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

* The "Top U.S. Hospitals" represent the top 10% of all hospitals reporting information to Hospital Compare.