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Clinical heart failure testing may lengthen lives

Updated: 2009-11-02 21:11:07 CST Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

by Brendan Missett

Patients with chronic heart failure may have a longer lifespan if they take part in clinical trials such as diagnostic testing, according to new research.

A study published in the November issue of European Journal of Heart Failure examined 2,332 patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull, UK.

After follow-up assessments, administered an average of 55.7 months after the initial review, the researchers found that 34 percent of patients had died - though the risk of death in those who participated in a clinical trial was half that of the entire group.

Though prior studies have shown about 40 percent of those diagnosed with chronic heart failure die within the year, Dr Andrew Clark of Castle Hill Hospital notes, "two-year mortality rates in recent trails has been in the order of 20 percent. Even in studies of very sick patients, mortality has only been 30 percent."

The investigators suggest that this trend may occur because patients who are more willing to partake in clinical trials may also be more likely to accept and comply with their treatment regimens. "Patient attitudes to their illness and its treatment are important aspects of their care," said Clark.

According to the FDA, screening trials are administered to test the best way to detect certain diseases and health conditions.

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