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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
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Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing
Published on: December 11, 2017
Beta-blocker utilization and outcomes in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy
Andrew Voigt1, Alaa Shalaby, Evan Adelstein
1Division of Electrophysiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Cardiovascular Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. voigtah@upmc.edu
Clinical Cardiology
|June 16, 2010
Summary
Optimal pharmacologic therapy, including beta-blockers (BB), is underutilized in heart failure (HF) patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Not using BBs without contraindication increases the risk of death or transplantation in CRT recipients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Optimal pharmacologic therapy (OPT) is crucial before considering cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).
- Beta-blockers (BB) are proven beneficial in heart failure (HF) but are underutilized in patients undergoing CRT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utilization of BB therapy in patients receiving CRT.
- To determine the association between BB therapy absence and outcomes in CRT recipients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 177 patients receiving CRT-capable defibrillators was studied.
- Medications at discharge were recorded, and patients were followed for death or transplantation.
- Statistical analysis adjusted for clinical characteristics and other therapies.
Main Results:
- 73% of CRT patients received BB therapy; 27 patients did not receive BBs without documented contraindication.
- Patients not on BBs without contraindication had a 3.1-fold increased risk of death or transplantation (p=0.043).
- Absence of BB therapy was independently associated with poorer outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Underutilization of BB therapy is prevalent in CRT recipients.
- Absence of BB therapy is linked to adverse outcomes in this patient population.
- Ensuring optimal BB use is critical for improving outcomes in HF patients receiving CRT.
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