Beta-blockers in patients with chronic obstructive disease and coexistent cardiac illnesses

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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P1666Do beta-blockers increase the risk for hospitalizations in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction? A secondary analysis of beta-blocker use in the TOPCAT trial

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehz748.0424 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

D N Silverman ◽

T B Plante ◽

M I Infeld ◽

S P Juraschek ◽

G Dougherty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Beta Blocker ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Beta Blockers ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Reduced Ejection Fraction

Abstract Background The use of beta-blockers for treatment of heart failure (HF) with a reduced ejection fraction (EF) is unequivocally beneficial, but their role in the treatment of preserved EF (HFpEF) remains unclear. Purpose In a contemporary HFpEF cohort, we sought to assess the association of HF hospitalizations and the use of beta-blockers in patients with an EF above and below 50%. Methods The TOPCAT trial tested spironolactone vs. placebo among patients with HFpEF, including some with mild reductions in EF between 45–50%. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular (CV) mortality, aborted cardiac arrest, or HF hospitalizations. Medication use, including beta-blockers, was reported at each visit and hospitalization. In the 1,761 participants from the Americas, we compared the association of beta-blocker use (vs. no use) and HF hospitalization or CV mortality using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for baseline demographics, history of myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and hypertension. The analyses were repeated in the EF strata ≥50% and <50%. Results Among patients included in the current analysis (mean age 72 years, 50% female, 78% white), 1,496/1,761 (85%) received beta-blockers and 1,566/1,761 (89%) had an EF ≥50%. HF hospitalizations and CV mortality occurred in 399/1,761 (23%) and 223/1,761 (13%) of participants, respectively. Beta-blocker use was associated with an increase in risk of HF hospitalization among patients with preserved EF ≥50% [HR 1.56, (95% CI 1.09–2.24), p=0.01] and was associated with a reduction in risk of hospitalization in patients with an EF <50% [HR 0.42, (95% CI 0.18- 0.99), p<0.05]. We found a significant interaction for EF threshold and beta-blocker use on incident HF hospitalizations (p=0.01). There were no differences in CV mortality. Figure 1. Kaplan Meier incidence plots Conclusions Beta-blocker use was associated with an increase in HF hospitalizations in patients with HFpEF (EF≥50%) but did not affect CV mortality. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and elucidate causality.

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Beta-blocker use and acute exacerbations of COPD following myocardial infarction: a Danish nationwide cohort study

Thorax ◽

10.1136/thoraxjnl-2019-214206 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 75 (11) ◽

pp. 928-933

Author(s):

Daniel B Rasmussen ◽

Uffe Bodtger ◽

Morten Lamberts ◽

Christian Torp-Pedersen ◽

Gunnar Gislason ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Beta Blocker ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Beta Blockers ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Symptom Burden ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Acute Exacerbations ◽

First Time

IntroductionPatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are undertreated with beta-blockers following myocardial infarction (MI), possibly due to fear for acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). Is beta-blocker use associated with increased risk of AECOPD in patients following first-time MI?MethodsDanish nationwide study of patients with COPD following hospitalisation for MI from 2003 to 2015. Multivariable, time-dependent Cox regression accounting for varying beta-blocker use based on claimed prescriptions during up to 13 years of follow-up.ResultsA total of 10 884 patients with COPD were discharged after first-time MI. The 1-year rate of AECOPD was 35%, and 65% used beta-blockers at 1 year. Beta-blocker use was associated with a lower risk of AECOPD (multivariable-adjusted HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.74–0.83). This association was independent of the type of MI (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.59–0.83 in ST-elevation MI (STEMI) and HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.75–0.84 in non-STEMI), presence or absence of heart failure (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74–0.90 and HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.72–0.82, respectively), beta-blocker dosage and type, as well as exacerbation severity. Results were similar in 1118 patients with full data on COPD severity and symptom burden (median forced expiratory volume in 1 s as percentage of predicted was 46 and majority had moderate dyspnoea), and in 1358 patients with severe COPD and frequent AECOPD with a high 1-year rate of AECOPD of 70%.DiscussionBeta-blocker use was not associated with increased risk of AECOPD following MI. This finding was independent of COPD severity, symptom burden and exacerbation history, and supports the safety of beta-blockers in patients with COPD, including high-risk patients with severe disease.

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