Drug cuts deaths from heart failure by a third

Deaths and admissions to hospital resulting from chronic heart failure can be reduced by nearly a third by giving patients the 30 year old diuretic spironolactone, according to a new study; until now, the drug has not been thought to be useful in treating patients with heart disease.

The new study enrolled 1663 men and women in 15 countries, all diagnosed with severe type III or type IV heart failure. About half of the participants received conventional drug treatment, including …