Benefits of beta-blockers in heart failure.
The problem of heart failure (HF) has become a topic of great interest. Until recently, the use of beta-blockers in patients with HF was considered as a contraindication. Times have changed and the contraindicated drug is now an advised and preferred one to be used in HF patients with certain advised recommendations for its use in a safe and beneficial way. Still we need to emphasize the benefits of these agents in order to achieve more application in HF patients. Here we try to stress the proved beneficial effects of beta-blockers by major studies in HF patients, and to supply the reader with practical information regarding the use of these agents with a look at the frequency of using them and the possible reasons behind their underuse. The files of heart failure patients admitted to 1st Internal Department in the University Hospital in Bratislava in the period between January and December 1997 were checked to show the magnitude of using beta-blockers in them. Among 150 patients admitted during the above mentioned period only 30 patients (20%) received beta-blockers. It seems that beta-blockers have to be used in all patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction unless a real contraindication exists, but the actual data shows that beta-blockers are still underused. (Tab. 2, Ref. 30.)
Sleiman
O I
OI
1st Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia. Ossamasleiman@hotmail.com
Murin
J
J
Ghanem
W M
WM
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists