A systematic review 1 including 28 studies with a total of 7 637 subjects was abstracted in DARE. The studies examined the effects of beta-blockers compared to placebo as an adjunctive treatment to ACE inhibitor therapy on functional status in patients with chronic heart failure (impairment of systolic function with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 45% or less) with follow-up time ranging from 3 to 44 months.
Beta-blockers improved NYHA class by at least one class (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.33 to 2.43; 23 studies) comparede to placebo. Also exercise time was prolonged significantly by 44.19 s (95% CI 6.62 to 81.75 s; 10 studies). Beta-blockers had no significant effect on the maximal peak oxygen uptake (p=0.48; 8 studies) and on 6-min walk distance (p=0.73; 9 studies). All cause mortality was significantly reduced (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.82; 23 studies) by beta-blocker therapy.
Primary/Secondary Keywords