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The effect of beta‐blocker therapy on quality of life in heart failure patients: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Dobre Daniela,
van Jaarsveld Cornelia H. M.,
deJongste Mike J. L.,
Haaijer Ruskamp Flora M.,
Ranchor Adelita V.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.023
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1099-1557
pISSN - 1053-8569
DOI - 10.1002/pds.1234
Subject(s) - medicine , meta analysis , randomized controlled trial , quality of life (healthcare) , medline , subgroup analysis , cochrane library , heart failure , physical therapy , strictly standardized mean difference , nursing , political science , law
Purpose To assess the impact of β‐blocker therapy on quality of life (QoL) in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients receiving optimal standard medication. Methods Randomised controlled trials (RCT) assessing QoL with a generic or disease specific instrument were identified by searching Medline, Embase, Pascual, Cochrane Controlled Trial database, and the bibliographies of the published articles. Studies published between 1985 and 2002 were included, regardless of language of publication. Cochrane Review Manager 4.2 software was used to analyse the data and standardised mean difference (SMD) was calculated to assess the effect on QoL. Results A total of 9 trials involving 1954 patients fit into the inclusion criteria for the analysis. QoL improved more in the β‐blocker group compared to the control arm, but the SMD did not reach statistical significance (SMD, 0.07; 95%CI [−0.16, 0.02]; p = 0.13). Subgroup analysis, per type of β‐blocker and various treatment follow‐up showed similar results. Conclusions In this meta‐analysis there is evidence that β‐blocker therapy, on top of standard medication, does not impair QoL. Clinicians may add β‐blockers to standard therapy without concerns of impairing QoL in patients with CHF. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.