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Predictors of improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction with carvedilol for congestive heart failure
J H O'Keefe1, A Magalski, T L Stevens
1Mid America Heart Institute, St Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
Insights
Carvedilol significantly improved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Nonischemic cardiomyopathy and recent CHF onset predicted greater LVEF improvement with beta-blocker therapy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Beta-blocker therapy is known to improve survival and LVEF in congestive heart failure (CHF).
- The extent and predictors of LVEF improvement with beta-blockers remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the magnitude and identify predictors of LVEF improvement in patients with CHF treated with carvedilol.
Main Methods:
- 295 patients with symptomatic CHF and LVEF <35% were enrolled.
- Carvedilol was initiated and titrated to 25 or 50 mg twice daily.
- Paired LVEFs were assessed at baseline and 9 months in 161 patients.
Main Results:
- LVEF improved significantly from 25% to 36% (P<.001).
- Greater LVEF improvement was observed in nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) compared to ischemic cardiomyopathy.
- NICM and recent CHF onset were identified as correlates of improved LVEF.
Conclusions:
- Carvedilol significantly enhances LVEF in patients with CHF.
- Nonischemic cardiomyopathy and recent onset of CHF are associated with greater LVEF improvement.
Background:
Beta-blocker therapy has been reported to improve survival and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the setting of congestive heart failure (CHF). The magnitude and predictors of improved LVEF are unclear.
Methods:
A total of 295 patients were enrolled in the study. Inclusion criteria were LVEF <35% at baseline and symptomatic (New York Heart Association class II to IV) CHF despite treatment with at minimum an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Carvedilol was initiated at 3.125 mg twice daily and titrated to a target dose of 25 or 50 mg twice daily, depending on the patient's weight. Paired pretreatment baseline and 9 months with treatment follow-up quantitative LVEFs (assessed by resting radionuclide ventriculograms) were obtained in 161 (55 %) of the patients.
Results:
LVEF improved from 25% +/- 6% at baseline to 36%+/-12% at follow-up (P<.001). Mean change in LVEF (deltaLVEF) was greater for nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) (+14.5+/-2 LVEF points) than ischemic cardiomyopathy (deltaLVEF +/- 7.6+/-10 EF points, P = .001). The deltaLVEF was > or =21 LVEF points in 30% of the NICM group versus 10% of the ischemic cardiomyopathy group. Conversely, the deltaLVEF was unchanged to minimally improved (< or =5 LVEF points) in 21% of the NICM group versus 52% of the ischemic cardiomyopathy group. Multivariable analysis identified NICM and recent onset of congestive heart failure as correlates of improved LVEF.
Conclusions:
Carvedilol significantly improved LVEF, especially in patients with NICM and those with recent onset of CHF.
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