Table 1.
Comparison of risk for death arising from deferral of medical therapy for heart failure for 1 year (in a patient with 1‐year survival of 90% if treated with all three drug classes) with risk of death mentioned in NHS patient information leaflets. Even in a low‐risk patient, the deferral of any class of treatment involves higher risk than that cited in almost all patient information leaflets that refer to risk for death
| Treatment decision | Risk of death: |
|---|---|
| 1 in… | |
| All three drug classes for heart failure: 1‐year deferral | 8 |
| Beta‐blocker for heart failure: 1‐year deferral | 21 |
| ACE inhibitor for heart failure: 1‐year deferral | 22 |
| Pancreas transplant (first year) | 29 |
| Aldosterone antagonist for heart failure: 1‐year deferral | 33 |
| Aortic valve replacement | 50 |
| Gastrectomy (for cancer) | 50 |
| Coronary angioplasty | 100 |
| Carotid endarterectomy | 100 |
| Gastrectomy (for obesity) | 100 |
| Spinal stenosis surgery | 300 |
| Lumbar decompression surgery | 700 |
| Bariatric surgery | 1000 |
| Weight loss surgery | 1000 |
| Transurethral resection of prostate | 1000 |
| Anaesthesia (all types) | 100 000 |
| General anaesthesia | 150 000 |
ACE, angiotensin‐converting enzyme.