CASE 1 c Hean T. Ong, FRCP, FACC, FESC; Fei P. Kow, MBBS, MMed Beta-blockers for heart failure: HT Ong Heart Clinic, Penang, Malaysia (Dr. Ong); BBAI Government Health Clinic, Why you should use them more Penang (Dr. Kow)
[email protected] Many physicians are afraid to prescribe beta-blockers for patients with heart failure. Yet in most cases, not The authors reported no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article. prescribing them is a mistake. he evidence is clear: Beta-blockers reduce mortality Practice and hospitalization in patients with systolic heart fail- recommendatiOnS Ture.1-3 Yet this class of drugs is underutilized by phy- › Initiate beta-blocker sicians who fear that beta-blocker’s negative inotropic effect therapy in low doses for will lead to worsening heart failure.4 patients with heart fail- Our aim in presenting this review is to counter such con- ure, and increase the dose cerns by detailing the latest evidence. We draw on current gradually until the target research findings to answer questions about beta-blocker dosage is achieved. A selection and dosage and address common misconceptions. › The benefit of beta-blocker therapy for patients with heart failure is propor- Do beta-blockers lower mortality rates tional to the degree of for patients with heart failure? heart rate reduction. A Yes. Three beta-blockers—bisoprolol, carvedilol, and meto- › Consider beta-blocker prolol succinate—have been conclusively shown to reduce therapy for patients with morbidity as well as mortality in patients with systolic heart coexisting chronic obstruc- failure (TABLE 1).1-3,5,6 Here’s a look at the studies: tive pulmonary disease z Bisoprolol.