Can beta blockers be safely initiated at home in patients with heart failure?

Background: The number of the patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has been rapidly increasing worldwide. However, sex differences in patients with HFpEF remain to be elucidated. Methods and Results: We examined sex differences in 3,124 consecutive patients with HFpEF (EF≥50%, mean 69.4years, 34.7% female) registered in our Chronic Heart Failure Analysis and Registry in the Tohoku District-2 (CHART-2) Study (N=10,219). Female patients, as compared with male patients, were characterized by higher age (72 vs. 68 years, P<0.01), higher LVEF (67 vs. 64%, P<0.01), higher heart rate (74 vs. 70bpm, PNYHA class III (14.1 vs. 7.0%, P<0.01), higher BNP levels (106 vs. 73pg/mL, P<0.01), lower prevalence of coronary artery disease (30 vs. 53%, P<0.01) and lower prescription rates of renin angiotensin system inhibitors (64.7 vs. 71.8%, P<0.01) and beta-blockers (37.8 vs. 43.9%, P<0.01). During the median 3.2-year follow-up, 147 female patients and 245 males died. Although there was no sex difference in all-cause mortality (13.6 vs. 12.0%, P=0.11), female patients more frequently died due to cardiovascular causes (53.7 vs. 39.2%, hazard ratio (HR): 1.62, 95% CI 1.20-2.18, P<0.01), and experienced more HF admissions (12.6 vs. 9.8%, HR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.08-1.68, P<0.01). Use of beta-blockers or renin-angiotensin system inhibitors was not associated with decreased incidence of death or HF admission in both sexes. In contrast, use of statins was associated with reduced incidence of all-cause death in both sexes (males and females; adjusted HR, 0.59 and 0.57; 95% CI 0.46-0.77 and 0.47-0.70, respectively, both P<0.01) and was also associated with reduced incidence of HF admission in males (adjusted HR: 0.67, 95%CI 0.53-0.85, P<0.01) but not in females (adjusted HR: 0.83, 95% CI 0.63-1.10, P=0.19). Conclusions: As compared with males, female patients with HFpEF were characterized by severer condition of HF and increased risk of cardiovascular death and HF admission. Although statin use was equally associated with improved mortality in both sexes, female patients with HFpEF may benefit from statins less than males in terms of reduction of HF admission.

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Abstract 14099: Beta-blockers Reduce Mortality in Patients With Heart Failure or Ischemic Heart Disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.142.suppl_3.14099 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammed Ruzieh ◽

Aaron Baugh ◽

lama jebbawi ◽

Andrew J Foy

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Ischemic Heart Disease ◽

Beta Blockers ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Risk Of Mortality ◽

Patients With Heart Failure ◽

Reduced Risk

Introduction: In patients with heart failure (HF) and ischemic heart disease (IHD), beta-blockers (BB) are associated with improved mortality. However, in patients with co-morbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this drug class is less utilized due to concerns about an unfavorable impact on the morbidity and mortality. Patients with COPD and heart disease have higher mortality than those with heart disease alone. There is a need to clarify the safety of BB in this population. Objective: To assess the effect of BB therapy on mortality in patients with heart disease and COPD. Methods: We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE and PubMed inception until May 30, 2020 to identify articles of BB use in patients with COPD. The risk ratio (RR) of mortality with BB use was calculated using the Mantel Haenszel random effect model. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager Web (RevMan Web). A two-sided p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 16 studies were included in this meta-analysis, comprising 133,538 patients (44,893 received BB, 88,381 received no control drug, and 264 received placebo). BB use was associated with reduced risk of mortality overall (14.8% vs. 19.9%, RR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.57 - 0.79), in patients with IHD (18.6% vs. 26.6%, RR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.50 - 0.82), and in patients with HF (8.1% vs. 23.6%, RR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.41 - 0.75), Figure. BB were used to treat hypertension in one study, and it was associated with reduced risk of mortality (6.2% vs. 13.4%, RR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.28 - 0.78). In contrast, βB use was not associated with statistically significant reduced risk of mortality when given without a specified cardiovascular indication (25.0% vs. 32.5%, RR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.59 - 1.15), figure. Conclusion: Beta-blockers are associated with improved mortality in patients with HF or IHD and COPD. A diagnosis of COPD should not preclude treatment with beta-blockers, as previous concerns likely over-stated risk.

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