Sodium channel blockers medical

Eactors involved in precipitating decompensation have been evaluated prospectively in patients admitted to the hospital with heart faUure. ° These studies consistently show that noncompliance with drugs or diet is a common cause of heart failure exacerbation. Eor example, 43% of patients admitted with an acute decompensation of chronic heart failure were assessed as having dietary sodium excess, 34% had excess fluid intake (defined as >2.5 L/day), and about 24% had drug noncompliance that may have contributed to their decompensation (although not necessarily defined as the primary cause of decompensation). Use of inappropriate medications such as antiar-rhythmic agents or calcium channel blockers also was an important precipitant of exacerbations. 

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