Treatment with verapamil during and after an acute myocardial infarction: a review based on the Danish Verapamil Infarction Trials I and II. The Danish Study Group on Verapamil in Myocardial Infarction

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1991:18 Suppl 6:S20-5.

Abstract

The effect of verapamil on death and reinfarction after an acute myocardial infarction was studied in two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter trials, the Danish Verapamil Infarction Trials I and II (DAVIT I and II). The studies demonstrated that verapamil 360 mg/day from the 2nd week after an acute myocardial infarction, prevented death and reinfarction. Meta-analyses of the results of DAVITs I and II resulted in a reduction of pooled ratios of 22% (95% confidence limits 1-37, p = 0.04) for death, 21% (5-35, p = 0.02) for first major events (first reinfarction or death), and 27% (6-43, p = 0.02) for first reinfarctions. The effect of verapamil was to prevent myocardial ischemia and reduce sudden death and reinfarction. It is concluded that long-term treatment with verapamil after an acute myocardial infarction may be recommended with the object of reducing overall mortality, major events and reinfarction.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / drug therapy
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / prevention & control*
  • Denmark
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy*
  • Myocardial Infarction / mortality
  • Myocardial Infarction / prevention & control
  • Recurrence
  • Verapamil / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Verapamil