title: The mortality effect of metoprolol CR/XL in patients with heart failure: results of the MERIT-HF Trial.
abstract: The study was undertaken to investigate the effect of metoprolol CR/XL on all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV. In all, 3,991 patients in NYHA class II-IV who were stable on standard medical treatment, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, and digitalis, were randomized to metoprolol CR/XL or placebo and uptitrated from 12.5 or 25 mg to 200 mg over an 8-week period and were planned to be followed for a period of 2 years. The study was stopped earlier than planned due to the significant benefit achieved with metoprolol CR/XL on all-cause mortality. Treatment with metoprolol CR/XL was associated with a 34% decrease in all-cause mortality, 38% decrease in cardiovascular mortality, 41% decrease in sudden death, and 49% decrease in death due to progressive heart failure. The average dose of metoprolol CR/XL at the end of the study was 159 mg, and 64% of the patients were receiving 200 mg of metoprolol CR/XL. There was no significant difference in the placebo and active treatment group with regard to permanent discontinuation. Treatment of patients in NYHA class II-IV with metoprolol CR/XL is associated with a significant decrease in total mortality.
authors.affiliation: Henry Ford Heart Vascular Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hjalmarson
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D008790:Metoprolol