title: Carvedilol prospective randomized cumulative survival (COPERNICUS) trial: carvedilol in severe heart failure.
abstract: The impact of carvedilol on the survival of patients with severe heart failure was examined in the Carvedilol Prospective Randomized Cumulative Survival (COPERNICUS) trial. The trial recruited 2,289 patients with symptoms at rest or on minimal exertion despite therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and a left ventricular ejection fraction of < or = 0.25. After an average follow-up period of 10.4 months, mortality was reduced by 34% in the carvedilol group. Carvedilol also reduced the number of days spent in the hospital for any cause by 27% and the number of days spent in the hospital for heart failure by 40%. Patients in the carvedilol group felt better and were less likely to have a serious adverse event. The benefits of carvedilol appeared early and were detected during the up-titration period.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California 94305, USA. mfowler@cvmed.stanford.edu
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Fowler
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol