Use of dronedarone for the preparation of a medicament for use in the prevention of cardiovascular hospitalization or of mortality

Abstract

Methods of using dronedarone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the preparation of a medicament for use in the prevention of cardiovascular hospitalization or of mortality, articles of manufacture and packages related thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of decreasing the risk of cardiac hospitalizations in a patient, said method comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of dronedarone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with food. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said patient has a history of or current atrial fibrillation or flutter. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the administration of dronedarone or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof prevents cardiovascular hospitalizations. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said patient further receives a diuretic-based treatment. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein said diuretic is a non-potassium-sparing diuretic. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the patient also exhibits at least one risk factor selected from the group consisting of:
 an age greater than or equal to 75, 
 hypertension, 
 diabetes, 
 a history of cerebral stroke or of systemic embolism, 
 left atrial diameter greater than or equal to 50, and 
 left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the dose of dronedarone administered per day, orally, is less than or equal 800 mg, measured in base form, and taken in one or more intakes.