Beta-blockers In Elderly Patients Research Articles

The prescription of beta-blockers in older patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: an observational study in Vietnam

This study in older hospitalized patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) aimed to examine the prevalence of beta-blocker prescription and its associated factors. A total of 190 participants were recruited from July 2019 to July 2020. The inclusion criteria included: (1) aged ≥ 60 years, (2) having a diagnosis of chronic HFrEF in the medical records, (3) hospitalized for at least 48 h. The participants had a mean age of 75.5 ± 9.1, and 46.8% were female. Of these, 55.3% were prescribed beta-blockers during admission. To explore the factors associated with beta-blocker prescription, multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied and the results were presented as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). On multivariate logistic regression models, higher NYHA classes (OR 0.49, 95%CI 0.26–0.94), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.04–0.85), chronic kidney disease (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19–0.83), and heart rate under 65 (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.12–0.98) were associated with a reduced likelihood of prescription. In this study, we found a low rate of beta-blocker prescriptions, with only around half of the participants being prescribed beta-blockers. Further studies are needed to examine the reasons for the under-prescription of beta-blockers, and to evaluate the long-term benefits of beta-blockers in elderly patients with HFrEF in this population.

Beta-blockers in elderly patients: neuroprotective effect or risk of cognitive decline?

BACKGROUND: Due to the fact that the number of elderly people with cognitive disorders is steadily increasing worldwide, there is an increased interest in studying the effects of drugs of different pharmacological groups on cognitive function.
 For many years, beta-blockers have been one of the main groups in the therapy of cardiovascular diseases. The effect of beta-blockers on cognitive function has been studied for a long time, and there is different, sometimes contradictory data on this issue.
 AIM: To evaluate the incidence of cognitive impairment in elderly and to determine the associations between cognitive impairment and the beta-blockers use.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study included all patients aged 60 years and older who attended the ambulance care from 24.10.2019 to 15.12.2019 at the polyclinic No. 78 in Saint Petersburg.
 Measurements: the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) test, the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Data collection included a full medical history, a medication review and questionnaire.
 RESULTS: The prevalence of cognitive impairment among the study participants was 71.1% (n = 138). Сognitive impairment was associated with high blood pressure and a history of stroke (p 0.05). Beta-blockers use was associated with decreased in total MoCA score, fluency (p = 0.0115), thinking (p = 0.0012), and memory (p = 0.0040). The identified association remained statistically significant after adjusting for gender, age, high blood pressure, a history of stroke, level of education, and decreased emotional background with odds ratio 2.245 (95% confidence interval 1.1564.358) for the fluency test and coefficient of regression 0.781 (95% confidence interval [1,233][0,328]) for delayed memory.
 CONCLUSIONS: Memory impairment (coefficient of regression 0.781, 95% confidence interval 1.233 to 0.328) and decreased fluency (odds ratio 2.245; 95% confidence interval 1.1564.358) were observed in the study in the outpatient elderly patient population taking beta-blockers. The beta-blockers may lead to memory impairment. When choosing hypotensive therapy, all possible effects of beta-blockers should be considered, including the effect on cognitive status.

Beta-blocker therapy in elderly patients with renal dysfunction and heart failure.

OBJECTIVETo assess the role of beta-blockers (BB) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) aged ≥ 75 years.METHODS AND RESULTSFrom January 2008 to July 2014, we included 390 consecutive patients ≥ 75 years of age with ejection fraction ≤ 35% and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≤ 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2. We analyzed the relationship between treatment with BB and mortality or cardiovascular events. The mean age of our population was 82.6 ± 4.1 years. Mean ejection fraction was 27.9% ± 6.5%. GFR was 60−45 mL/min per 1.73 m2 in 50.3% of patients, 45−30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 in 37.4%, and < 30 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 in 12.3%. At the conclusion of follow-up, 67.4% of patients were receiving BB. The median follow-up was 28.04 (IR: 19.41−36.67) months. During the study period, 211 patients (54.1%) died and 257 (65.9%) had a major cardiovascular event (death or hospitalization for heart failure). BB use was significantly associated with a reduced risk of death (HR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.35−0.74;P < 0.001). Patients receiving BB consistently showed a reduced risk of death across the different stages of CKD: stage IIIa (GFR = 30−45 mL/min per 1.73 m 2; HR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.26−0.86,P < 0.0001), stage IIIb (GFR 30−45 mL/min per 1.73 m 2; HR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.26−1.06,P = 0.007), and stages IV and V (GFR < 30 mL/min per 1.73 m 2; HR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.11−0.76;P = 0.047). CONCLUSIONSThe use of BB in elderly patients with HFrEF and renal impairment was associated with a better prognosis. Use of BB should be encouraged when possible.

Beta-blockers in elderly patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and chronic kidney disease: danger or benefit?

Abstract Introduction Beta-blockers (BB) have been shown to reduce mortality in patients with HFrEF. However, there is little data on the benefit of these therapies in patients with chronic kidney disease and even less in older patients. The aim of this work is to evaluate the role of beta-blockers in patients ≥75 years along the spectrum of kidney disease. Methods From January 2008 to July 2014, we consecutively enlisted 802 patients aged &amp;gt;75 years that had ejection fraction ≤35%. From this group we included 380 patients that had CKD (defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≤60 ml/min/1.73m2). Clinical, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic data were taken from hospital records. Follow-up was made via telephone and hospital records as well. Propensity score matching analysis was made to assess the relationship between treatment with BB and occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) composite of death for any cause or heart failure. hospitalization. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was also made in the different groups of CKD (45–60 ml/min/1.73m2, 30–45 ml/min/1.73m2, &amp;lt;30 ml/min/1.73m2) in order to assess the effect of BB over mortality and CV events in each subgroup. Results 390 patients were included. Male represented 62.3% of all participants, and the mean age was 82.6±4.1 years. The mean ejection fraction was 27.9±6.5%. Ischemic etiology was found in 50.6% of cases. Glomerular filtrate (GF) was 60 to 45 ml/min/1.73 m2 in 50.3% of patients, 45–30 ml/min/1.73 m2 in 37.4% and &amp;lt;30 ml/min/1.73 m2 in 12.3%. At the end of the follow-up, 67.4% of the patients were on beta-blocker treatment. The mean follow-up was 32±23 months. During the study period, 211 patients (54.1%) died and 257 patients (65.9%) had a major cardiovascular event (death or hospitalization for heart failure). After propensity score matching analysis, 178 were considered (89 each group) and they have no significant difference in baseline characteristics. BBs were found to significantly reduce mortality (HR 0.45 (95% CI, 0.27–0.75). When the effect of BB over the different subgroups of CKD was analyzed, it was seen also that BB reduced mortality in patients with eGFR 45–60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (HR 0.47 (95% CI, 0.26–0.86), in patients with eGFR 30–45 ml/min/1.73 m2 (HR 0.55 (95% CI, 0.26–1.06)and in eGFR &amp;lt;30 ml/min/1.73 m2 (HR 0.29 (95% CI, 0.11–0.76) Conclusion The use of beta-blockers in elderly patients with HFrEF and kidney DISEASE was associated with increased survival, regardless of the degree of kidney failure. There is a need to raise awareness of the benefits of beta-blocker use in these patients to promote their use where possible. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Improvement of Ventricular-Arterial Coupling in Elderly Patients with Heart Failure After Beta Blocker Therapy: Results from the CIBIS-ELD Trial.

The interaction between the heart and the arterial system (ventricular-arterial coupling - VA) is an important determinant of cardiovascular performance. Vascular stiffness (Ea) and left ventricular (LV) endsystolic stiffness (Elv) augment with age and in heart failure (HF). Beta blockers (BB) are recommended therapy for patients with HF. However, data about the effects of BB on VA coupling are scarce. TO ASSESS: 1) changes in VA after BB therapy; 2) interactions between VA and LV functions, 3) predictive factors influencing VA change. Eight hundred seventy-seven elderly patients with HF (aged ≥ 65, NYHA ≥ II, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 45%), treated with BB according to the CIBIS-ELD protocol of up-titration, underwent Doppler echocardiography with clinical and laboratory assessment before and after 12 weeks of BB. VA coupling was calculated as Ea/Elv ratio. Ventriculo-arterial interaction improved after 12 weeks of BB in elderly patients with HF. Values of Ea significantly decreased from 2.73 ± 1.16 to 2.40 ± 1.01, p < 0.001, resulting in a VA level close to the optimal range i.e. from 1.70 ± 1.05 (1.46) to 1.50 ± 0.94 (1.29), p < 0.001. A similar degree of VA change was found in the patients with ischemic and non-ischemic HF after the treatment. Improvement in the clinical stage of HF closely correlated with VA coupling change after BB (p = 0.006). The strongest predictor of VA coupling alteration during BB was the improvement in global LVEF (p < 0.001) followed by the age of patients (p = 0.014). The beneficial effect of BB in elderly patients with HF was achieved by optimizing VA coupling close to recommended range, associated with an improvement in LVEF and contractility.

P0157 : Adherence and safety of beta-blockers in elderly patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension: A multi-center cross-sectional study

P0157 : Adherence and safety of beta-blockers in elderly patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension: A multi-center cross-sectional study

Beta-blocking agents in cardiovascular disease; are they here to stay?

In the contemporary practice of treatment of myocardial infarction (MI), beta-blocking agents have no mortality benefit but they do reduce recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) and angina. However, this comes at the expense of an increase in heart failure, cardiogenic shock and drug discontinuation as shown by a recent meta-analysis published online in the American Journal of Medicine in June 2014 [1]. This meta-analysis involved 60 trials with 102,003 patients and the primary outcome was all-cause mortality. The authors concluded that clinical guidelines recommending the use of beta-blocking agents in post-MI patients need to be reconsidered. Consequently, debate has arisen regarding the efficacy of beta-blocking agents in MI and in other cardiovascular conditions. Let’s review some recent trials on the application of beta-blocking agents in patients with various cardiovascular diseases and under various circumstances.

Self-rated health predicts adverse events during beta-blocker treatment: The CIBIS-ELD randomised trial analysis

BackgroundSelf-rated health (SRH) predicts outcome in patients with heart failure. Beta-blockers are known to improve health-related quality of life and reduce mortality in such patients. We aimed to evaluate the relation between SRH and adverse events during titration of beta-blockers in elderly patients with heart failure. MethodsThe cardiac insufficiency bisoprolol study in the elderly (CIBIS-ELD) is a multicentre, double-blind trial, in which 883 patients aged ≥65years with chronic heart failure (73±6years, 38% women, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 42%±14%) were randomised to bisoprolol or carvedilol. SRH was assessed at baseline and after 12weeks, using a 5-grade descriptive scale: excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor. ResultsMedian SRH at baseline and follow-up was good, but more patients reported fair/poor SRH at baseline (36% vs. 30%, p=0.012). Women, beta-blocker-naïve patients, patients in NYHA class III/IV and those with PHQ-9 score ≥12 were more likely to report fair/poor baseline SRH (p<0.001 for all). During follow-up, SRH improved in 34% of patients and worsened in 8% (p<0.001). Adverse events were experienced by 64% patients and 38% experienced >1 adverse event or serious adverse event, with higher prevalence in lower SRH categories. In a multivariate logistic regression model, SRH, age, distance achieved on the 6-min walk test and LVEF >45% predicted adverse events (p<0.05 for all). ConclusionsSRH is an independent predictor of adverse events during titration of beta-blockers and correlates with the proportion and number of adverse events per patient.

Titration to target dose of bisoprolol vs. carvedilol in elderly patients with heart failure: the CIBIS-ELD trial

AimsVarious beta-blockers with distinct pharmacological profiles are approved in heart failure, yet they remain underused and underdosed. Although potentially of major public health importance, whether one agent is superior in terms of tolerability and optimal dosing has not been investigated. The aim of this study was therefore to compare the tolerability and clinical effects of two proven beta-blockers in elderly patients with heart failure.Methods and resultsWe performed a double-blind superiority trial of bisoprolol vs. carvedilol in 883 elderly heart failure patients with reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction in 41 European centres. The primary endpoint was tolerability, defined as reaching and maintaining guideline-recommended target doses after 12 weeks treatment. Adverse events and clinical parameters of patient status were secondary endpoints. None of the beta-blockers was superior with regards to tolerability: 24% [95% confidence interval (CI) 20–28] of patients in the bisoprolol arm and 25% (95% CI 21–29) of patients in the carvedilol arm achieved the primary endpoint (P= 0.64). The use of bisoprolol resulted in greater reduction of heart rate (adjusted mean difference 2.1 b.p.m., 95% CI 0.5–3.6, P= 0.008) and more, dose-limiting, bradycardic adverse events (16 vs. 11%; P= 0.02). The use of carvedilol led to a reduction of forced expiratory volume (adjusted mean difference 50 mL, 95% CI 4–95, P= 0.03) and more, non-dose-limiting, pulmonary adverse events (10 vs. 4%; P < 0.001).ConclusionOverall tolerability to target doses was comparable. The pattern of intolerance, however, was different: bradycardia occurred more often in the bisoprolol group, whereas pulmonary adverse events occurred more often in the carvedilol group.This study is registered with controlled-trials.com, number ISRCTN34827306.

Poor tolerance of beta-blockers by elderly patients with heart failure

Despite the well-understood importance of beta-blocker therapy in heart failure, it is sometimes not possible to use beta-blockers in elderly patients due to poor tolerance. In this report, we describe the case of an 83-year-old patient with severe systolic heart failure complicated by aortic valve stenosis and atrial fibrillation. A simple therapeutic approach involving discontinuation of beta-blockers remarkably alleviated the symptoms such as left ventricular ejection fraction, and improved the chest radiography and laboratory findings; further, atrial fibrillation converted to sinus rhythm. It is important to carefully administer beta-blocker therapy to elderly patients with heart failure, especially after considering cardiac output.

Seguridad y tolerancia del tratamiento con bloqueadores beta en el paciente anciano con insuficiencia cardíaca. Estudio BETANIC

Background and objetive Prescription of beta-blockers (BB) in elderly patients with heart failure (HF) is very low, and it probably owes to an excessive concern about the risk of adverse reactions. The objective of our study was to determine the safety and tolerance of BB in elderly patients with HF in an Internal Medicine clinical practice. Material and methods This observational prospective study of clinical practice included 119 patients older than 70 years with HF evaluated in 10 Internal Medicine services. Patients must have started treatment with BB (carvedilol or bisoprolol) within the last month. After 6 months of follow-up, the percentage of patients on BB, the dose achieved and the causes of withdrawal were analyzed. Results At the end of the study, 100 patients (84%) were on BB treatment. There were 3 deaths (2.5%), none related to BB use, and 6 losses to follow-up (5%). The treatment was stopped in 10 patients (8.4%). Maximum dose was achieved in 38.7% of the patients. Adverse reactions responsible for treatment withdrawal were: symptomatic hypotension (3 cases; 2.5%); asymptomatic hypotension (1 case; 0.8%); heart failure (2 cases; 1.7%); bradycardia (2 cases; 1.7%); bronchospasm (1 case; 0.8%); and unknown cause (1 case; 0.8%). Conclusions BB are excellently tolerated in elderly patients with HF treated in an Internal Medicine setting.

Beta-blockers in chronic heart failure in elderly patient

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common and disabling condition with morbidity and mortality that increase dramatically with advancing age. There are evidences, from both randomized trials and observational studies, that suggest that beta-blockers are effective and well tolerated in elderly as well as in young patients. Nonetheless in clinical practice they are substantially underutilized in elderly patients. The article underlines peculiarities of chronic heart failure treatment with beta-blockers in elderly patients, with a review of the most important published trials.

Randomized trial to determine the effect of nebivolol on mortality and cardiovascular hospital admission in elderly patients with heart failure (SENIORS)

Large randomized trials have shown that beta-blockers reduce mortality and hospital admissions in patients with heart failure. The effects of beta-blockers in elderly patients with a broad range of left ventricular ejection fraction are uncertain. The SENIORS study was performed to assess effects of the beta-blocker, nebivolol, in patients >/=70 years, regardless of ejection fraction. We randomly assigned 2128 patients aged >/=70 years with a history of heart failure (hospital admission for heart failure within the previous year or known ejection fraction </=35%), 1067 to nebivolol (titrated from 1.25 mg once daily to 10 mg once daily), and 1061 to placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of all cause mortality or cardiovascular hospital admission (time to first event). Analysis was by intention to treat. Mean duration of follow-up was 21 months. Mean age was 76 years (SD 4.7), 37% were female, mean ejection fraction was 36% (with 35% having ejection fraction >35%), and 68% had a prior history of coronary heart disease. The mean maintenance dose of nebivolol was 7.7 mg and of placebo 8.5 mg. The primary outcome occurred in 332 patients (31.1%) on nebivolol compared with 375 (35.3%) on placebo [hazard ratio (HR) 0.86, 95% CI 0.74-0.99; P=0.039]. There was no significant influence of age, gender, or ejection fraction on the effect of nebivolol on the primary outcome. Death (all causes) occurred in 169 (15.8%) on nebivolol and 192 (18.1%) on placebo (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.71-1.08; P=0.21). Nebivolol, a beta-blocker with vasodilating properties, is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for heart failure in the elderly.

Association between functional status and use and effectiveness of beta-blocker prophylaxis in elderly survivors of acute myocardial infarction.

To examine whether physical and cognitive impairments explain low use of beta-blockers in elderly patients and whether functionally impaired older adults have improved survival if a beta-blocker is prescribed at hospital discharge. Cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study. Acute care hospitals in the United States. National cohort of 45,370 elderly acute myocardial infarction survivors, with no chart-documented contraindications to beta-blocker treatment. The main outcome measures were beta-blocker prescription at hospital discharge and 1-year survival. Fifty percent (n=22,683) of eligible patients were prescribed a beta-blocker at discharge. Older age and functional impairments (incontinence, mobility impairment, and cognitive impairment) were independently associated with decreased use of beta-blockers. The odds ratios for prescribing a beta-blocker at hospital discharge were 0.82 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.77-0.86), 0.63 (95% CI=0.56-0.71), and 0.40 (95% CI=0.32-0.51) for persons with one, two, and three impairments, respectively, compared with those with no impairments. In survival analysis, patients prescribed a beta-blocker were 21% less likely than nonrecipients to die within 1 year of follow-up (relative risk=0.79, P=.0001). Similar survival benefit was observed in patients with and without functional impairments. This study shows a strong association between functional impairment and the use of beta-blockers after acute myocardial infarction in elderly patients. The results suggest that increasing use of beta-blockers in this group provides an opportunity to improve outcomes.

Beta-blocker therapy and severe heart failure: myth or reality?

The medical management of heart failure has undergone remarkable progress in the past 10 years. The paradigm shift is toward long-term reparative strategies that help in altering the biologic properties of the failing heart. Together with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta blockers have emerged as standard therapy for heart failure, especially for patients with mild to moderate heart failure. Since most of the clinical trials demonstrating the benefits of betablockers have been done in patients with mild to moderate heart failure, some controversy exists about the utility of beta-blocking agents in patients with advanced heart failure. This review will summarize the rationale and the use of beta blockers, a very challenging therapeutic strategy, in patients with severe heart failure.

Deactivation of the sympathetic nervous system in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

In this article, we review the basic biology, signal transduction pathways, and clinical pharmacology associated with cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-ARs) in the context of the use of beta-blocking agents in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. Adrenergic receptors, particularly the beta-AR subtypes (beta(1)-AR and beta(2)-AR), are known to play a critical role in the modulation of cardiac function, providing for both "adaptive" and "maladaptive" compensatory changes. In the context of exercise or self-preservation, the adrenergic nervous system, acting via beta-ARs permits an appropriately rapid, highly-dynamic increase in cardiac function. Conversely, in individuals with chronic congestive heart failure, the sustained, heightened activation of adrenergic nervous system, as manifested by increases in circulating catecholamines, results in down- regulation and desensitization of myocardial beta-ARs, and potentially, significant myocardial damage. A number of recent clinical trials have demonstrated a marked mortality benefit from using beta-blocking agents such as metoprolol and carvedilol in patients with heart failure. The pharmacologic properties of several of these drugs and some of the specifics of their usefulness and limitations are discussed herein.

Beta-blocking agents in patients with insulin resistance: effects of vasodilating beta-blockers

Essential hypertension is--at least in many subjects--associated with a decrease in insulin sensitivity, while glycaemic control is (still) normal. It seems that in hypertensive patients, two major functions of insulin are impaired: there is insulin resistance of peripheral glucose uptake (primarily skeletal muscle) and insulin resistance of insulin-stimulated vasodilation. In view of some retrospective data and meta-analyses, which showed a less than expected reduction in coronary events (coronary paradox), the metabolic side effects of the antihypertensive treatment have received more attention. Many groups have shown that conventional antihypertensive treatment, both with beta-blockers and/or diuretics, decreases insulin sensitivity by various mechanisms. While low-dose diuretics seem to be free of these metabolic effects, there is no evidence for this in the beta-adrenergic blockers. However, recent metabolic studies evaluated the effects of vasodilating beta-blockers, such as dilevalol, carvedilol and celiprolol, on insulin sensitivity and the atherogenic risk factors. None of them decreased insulin sensitivity, as has been described for the beta-blockers with and without beta1 selectivity. This supports the idea that peripheral vascular resistance and peripheral blood flow play a central role in mediating the metabolic side effects of the beta-blocking agents, as the vasodilating action (either via beta2 stimulation or alpha1-blockade) seems to more than offset the detrimental effects of the blockade of beta (or beta1) receptors. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relevance of the radical scavenging properties of these agents and their connection to their metabolic effects. Therefore, the beneficial characteristics of these newer beta-adrenoreceptor blockers suggest that the vasodilating beta-blocking agents could be advantageous for hypertensive patients with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.

Adverse outcomes of underuse of beta-blockers in elderly patients

To the Editor. —I read with interest the Editorial by Drs Felch and Scanlon.1 They speak of the dream for medicine for the new millennium, "that the care of patients will be evidence based," and that this can only be "fully realized when the major players in the health care field find improved ways to work together." They close by saying, "We envision the likelihood that new mechanisms will be found to alert clinicians about the existence of innovation. We hold firm to the right of frontline physicians to make the choice of using it (to follow a recommendation) or to cite their reasons for not using it." In Iowa, we are proud to point to the existence of a program that for the past 24 years has done this very thing—the Iowa Statewide Perinatal Care Program. This program consists of a perinatal review team that includes a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, a neonatologist,

Adverse outcomes of underuse of beta-blockers in elderly patients

To the Editor. —The findings of Soumerai et al 1 lump all calcium channel blockers into one group. While no calcium channel blocker is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for prevention of morbidity and mortality post-MI, data from several studies have shown that verapamil can reduce morbidity and mortality in some post-MI patients. The Second Danish Verapamil Infarction Trial (DAVIT II) 2,3 randomized patients (