Antithrombotic therapy for heart failure in sinus rhythm.

Although the risk of thromboembolism in chronic heart failure is high even in the absence of atrial fibrillation, the risk to benefit ratio of anticoagulation vs. antiplatelet therapy or no antithrombotic therapy is poorly defined in this population. Post hoc analysis of large therapeutic heart failure trials has estimated the risk of thromboembolism to be between 1 and 4.

Hypertension to heart failure: a pathophysiological spectrum relating blood pressure, drug treatments and stroke.

Hypertension is a leading cause of major adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including heart attacks and stroke. The most visible manifestation of target organ damage related to hypertension is left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). LVH eventually predisposes to systolic and diastolic heart failure, and is associated with an even greater risk of stroke.