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Beta‐Blockers for Treatment of Heart Failure in the Elderly
Author(s) -
Zimmet Hendrik,
Krum Henry
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy practice and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2055-2335
pISSN - 1445-937X
DOI - 10.1002/j.2055-2335.2006.tb00615.x
Subject(s) - medicine , heart failure , tolerability , medical prescription , pharmacotherapy , context (archaeology) , drug class , beta (programming language) , intensive care medicine , drug , adrenergic beta antagonists , carvedilol , cardiology , pharmacology , adverse effect , paleontology , computer science , propranolol , biology , programming language
Pharmacotherapy for heart failure focuses on neurohormonal blocking strategies using predominantly angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and beta‐blockers, both conferring improved outcomes in patients with systolic chronic heart failure. Despite this, there is ongoing underutilisation of beta‐blockers in this context in clinical practice. Advanced age is cited as a common reason for non‐prescription of beta‐blockers. The concerns are usually perceived reduced efficacy and tolerability of the drug class. However, beta‐blockers are an efficacious and well‐tolerated treatment in most heart failure patients and recent studies suggest that these benefits extend to the elderly patient population. It is critical to ensure that these findings are translated into practice and that all appropriate patients receive these drugs.