Renin angiotensin system inhibitors: a panacea for heart disease?

The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) has increased over several decades. With increased awareness, early diagnosis and improved non-invasive and invasive modalities, the population has significantly grown. Patients present with varying degrees of pathology, from stable angina to myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. As a result, some patients may develop left ventricular dysfunction and subsequent heart failure, whereas others may avoid this complication. Heart failure patients have received increased attention given their acuity, the need for repeated hospitalizations due to recurrent decompensations, increasing healthcare costs and subsequent poor quality of life. With increased data, evidence based medications have proven to reduce mortality and re-hospitalizations in patients with heart failure, with less hospital admissions and shorter stays as well as improved quality of life.