title: Effects of bisoprolol on cardiac function and exercise in patients with heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of bisoprolol on exercise capacity and ventricular function in patients with heart failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and hemodynamic variables, ventricular function and remodeling, and ergospirometry of patients with heart failure of different etiologies were evaluated before and after the administration of bisoprolol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two patients were analyzed; one patient did not tolerate medication and 14 patients reached the study goal. The group consisted of 9 men and 5 women, the mean age was 52 (36-64) years, and patients were followed during 551 days (238-1109). We observed an improvement in NYHA functional class, reduction in resting heart rate (78.8+/-8.7 vs 63+/-6.4 bpm, p <0.001), increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (31.3+/-8.5% vs 39+/-14.7%. p=0.043), and a tendency towards improved quality of life scores (31+/-20.6 vs 17.8+/-14.8. p=0.058). The maximum heart rate dropped during exercise (138.1+/-20.2 vs 116.7+/-27.1. p=0.01), as did peak oxygen consumption (20.9+/-6.8 vs 15.1+/-3.5. p<0.001); no change was observed on the EV/VCO2 slope. The effects were observed for all etiologies, including Chagas disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bisoprolol was safe and well tolerated in patients with heart failure. Bisoprolol therapy improved the symptoms, hemodynamic variables, as well as the cardiac function for all etiologies; however, it did not result in improved exercise capacity.
authors.affiliation: Instituto do Coração, FM, USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. victorissa@cardiol.br
authors.forename: Victor Sarli
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Issa
authors.forename: Guilherme Vieira
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Marcos Valério Coimbra
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rezende
authors.forename: Fátima das Dores
authors.initials: Fd
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Silvia Moreira Ayub
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bacal
authors.forename: Edimar Alcides
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bocchi
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D017298:Bisoprolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016552:Ergometry; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008448:Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013147:Spirometry; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D017298:Bisoprolol