Captopril versus digoxin in patients with coronary artery disease and mild heart failure. A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study. The CADS Study Group.

We conducted a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial in order to evaluate the long-term effects of captopril (50 mg/day), digoxin (0.25 mg/day) and placebo on quality of life, cardiovascular events, clinical symptoms and exercise tolerance in patients with documented myocardial infarction, resulting in regional wall motion abnormalities, and with mild heart failure (NYHA class II to III without treatment) and exercise not limited by angina. 222 patients were studied, 63 were randomized to captopril, 66 to digoxin, 67 to placebo. Follow-up was conducted for two years. Base line characteristics in the three treatment groups were similar. After one year of therapy, digoxin had significantly improved general well-being (p < 0.01 vs captopril), symptom score (p < 0.05 vs captopril and placebo), and vitality (p < 0.05 vs captopril). Digoxin improved NYHA class in 45% as compared to placebo (28%, p < 0.05). Worsening of angina was more frequent with captopril as compared to digoxin (p < 0.05). However, cardiovascular events during follow-up were lower in the captopril group as compared to placebo and digoxin (p < 0.01 captopril vs placebo). No differences between groups were observed in baseline and follow-up exercise tolerance between the three groups. Dizziness during upright tilt and cough were more frequent with captopril as compared to digoxin or placebo. After two years of follow-up (captopril n = 32, digoxin n = 29, placebo n = 27) general well-being was improved with both digoxin and captopril (p < 0.004 and p < 0.03 vs placebo).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)