Association of β-Blocker Use With Heart Failure Hospitalizations and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among Patients With Heart Failure With a Preserved Ejection Fraction

Key Points Question Is there an association of β-blocker use with heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular disease mortality among patients with heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction? Findings In this secondary analysis of the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist randomized clinical trial of spironolactone for patients with heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction of 50% or greater, β-blocker use was associated with a higher risk of heart failure hospitalizations compared with patients not taking β-blockers. This association was not present among patients with an ejection fraction between 45% and 49%. Meaning Prospective studies of the role β-blockers play in heart failure among patients with a preserved ejection fraction appears to be warranted to clarify the effectiveness of these drugs for patients with an ejection fraction of 50% or greater.