Hypertension-induced congestive heart failure.

Arterial hypertension used to be the most common cause of congestive left ventricular failure. With the availability and common use of antihypertensive treatment the incidence and prevalence of hypertension-induced left ventricular failure has gradually declined. Today congestive heart failure due to underlying coronary heart disease is by far more common than the hypertension-induced variety. The effect of treatment of left ventricular failure in recent years, in particular with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and carvedilol, has been impressive.