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Updated: Oct 9, 2025

Cardiac Response to β-Adrenergic Stimulation Determined by Pressure-Volume Loop Analysis
Published on: May 19, 2021
Predictors of positive response to beta-blockers for treatment of premature ventricular complexes
Serdar Demir1, Kamil Gulsen1, Alper Kepez2
1Kartal Koşuyolu Heart Training and Research Hospital, Cardiology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Beta-blocker therapy for premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) is more effective in patients with a positive correlation between heart rate and PVCs. PVC QRS width also predicts treatment success for these arrhythmias.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are common arrhythmias.
- Beta-blockers are frequently used for PVC treatment.
- Predictors of beta-blocker efficacy for PVCs require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors predicting the antiarrhythmic effect of beta-blockers on PVCs.
- To evaluate the relationship between patient characteristics and response to beta-blocker therapy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 190 patients treated with beta-blockers for PVCs.
- Comparison of Holter recordings before and after treatment initiation.
- Logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors of response.
Main Results:
- 32.1% of patients showed at least a 50% reduction in PVC burden.
- Responders had a significantly higher prevalence of fast heart rate-PVC status (73.8% vs. 48.1%).
- Independent predictors of positive response included fast HR-PVC status (OR 2.935) and PVC QRS width (OR 0.971).
Conclusions:
- Fast heart rate-PVC status is a positive predictor of beta-blocker success.
- PVC QRS width is a negative predictor of beta-blocker success.
- These findings may guide clinical treatment decisions for PVC management.
Background:
The aim of the present study is to investigate the possible factors that might be predictive of effective antiarrhythmic effect of beta-blockers on premature ventricular complexes (PVC).
Methods:
Data of 190 eligible consecutive patients to whom beta-blocker therapy had been initiated for treatment of PVC's were retrospectively evaluated. The Holter recording acquired before beta-blocker initiation and the first Holter acquired after beta blocker initiation during follow up was comprehensively evaluated for each patient. Parameters obtained from pre- and post-beta-blocker 24 h Holter recordings were compared with each other and possible predictors were evaluated for positive response to beta-blocker therapy.
Results:
Sixty-one patients (32.1%) were observed to respond beta-blocker therapy with at least 50% reduction of daily PVC burden. Patients who responded to beta-blockers had significantly higher ratio of patients who had positive correlation between hourly heart rate and corresponding hourly PVC number (fast HR-PVC status) compared with non-responders (73.8% vs 48.1%, p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed PVC QRS width (Odds ratio: 0.971; p: 0.037) and fast HR-PVC status (Odds ratio: 2.935; p: 0.007) as the independent predictors of positive response to beta-blockers for treatment of PVC.
Conclusion:
Positive correlation between hourly heart rate and PVC incidence was found to be independent positive predictor and PVC QRS width was found to be independent negative predictor of beta-blocker success in our study. This observation might have important clinical implications to guide medical treatment of PVCs in clinical practice.
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