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Experience of commencing Carvedilol in elderly patients with heart failure in a routine outpatient clinic

A Owen1

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Kent & Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Kent CT1 3LP, Canterbury, UK.

European Journal of Heart Failure
|August 12, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Carvedilol initiation is safe for elderly heart failure patients in outpatient clinics. The study found good tolerance and no worsening of heart failure symptoms, indicating safe clinical practice.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Carvedilol benefits heart failure patients.
  • Initiation protocols for elderly patients in routine practice are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the safety and tolerability of initiating carvedilol in elderly heart failure patients in an outpatient setting.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 19 heart failure patients aged 80+/-4 years.
  • Carvedilol initiated in a routine outpatient clinic.

Main Results:

  • No patients experienced worsening heart failure or hospitalization.
  • Mean heart rate reduction of 11 beats/min.
  • 68% of patients tolerated carvedilol.

Conclusions:

  • Carvedilol can be safely initiated in routine outpatient clinics for selected elderly heart failure patients.
  • Outpatient initiation appears feasible and well-tolerated in this population.

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