Herbal extract extends life for heart failure patients

Dr. Christian J. F. Holubarsch and his team saw a 20 percent reduction in cardiac-related deaths among patients on WS®1442, extending patients’ lives by four months during the first 18 months of the study. The safety of the compound was confirmed by a lower number of adverse events among the study group than those on placebo.

"WS 1442 is safe in patients with more severe congestive heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction lower than 35 percent,” said Dr. Holubarsch of Median Kliniken Hospitals in Bad Krozingen, Germany, and lead study author. “It postpones death of cardiac cause after 18 months and sudden cardiac death in an important subgroup of patients."

Dr. Holubarsch wil present “Crateagus Extract WS 1442 Postpones Cardiac Death in Patients With Congestive Heart Failure Class NYHA II-III: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial in 2,681 Patients” on Tuesday, March 27 at 8:30 a.m. in Hall A.

The American College of Cardiology (www.acc.org) represents the majority of board certified cardiovascular physicians in the United States. Its mission is to advocate for quality cardiovascular care through education, research, promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines- and to influence health care policy. ACC.07 and the i2 Summit is the largest cardiovascular meeting, bringing together cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists to share the newest discoveries in treatment and prevention, while helping the ACC achieve its mission to address and improve issues in cardiovascular medicine.