Systematic review of the impact of beta blockers on mortality and hospital admissions in heart failure.
Heart failure is a common condition that carries a high burden of mortality and morbidity. Several randomised trials have evaluated the effects of beta blockers in heart failure. This paper gives a systematic overview of published randomised trials of beta blockers in heart failure using standard methods. In all, 22 randomised controlled trials were identified with a total of 10480 patients, and an average of 11 months of treatment. The average age was 61 years and 4% were female. Most studies excluded patients with severe heart failure. Death rates in patients randomised to receive beta blockers compared to controls were 458/5657 (8.0%) and 635/4951 (12.8%) respectively, odds ratio 0.63, 95% CI 0.55-0.72, P<0.00001. Similar reductions were observed for hospital admissions for worsening heart failure (11.3 vs. 17.1%, respectively, odds ratio 0.63) and for the composite outcome of death or heart-failure hospital admission (19.4 vs. 26.9%, respectively, odds ratio 0.66). These results show that beta blockers reduce the risk of mortality or the need for heart-failure hospital admission by approximately one third. Absolute reductions of 5-6% in event rates were observed over approximately 1 year of treatment period. These important benefits should be implemented as a priority, since treatment with beta blockers is inexpensive and heart failure carries a high risk of death and disability. Further information on the effect of beta blockers in elderly patients and women would be helpful.
Shibata
M C
MC
Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, Sydney Street, SW3 6NP, London, UK. m.shibata@rbh.nthames.nhs.uk
Flather
M D
MD
Wang
D
D
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010343:Patient Admission; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists