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Effects of bisoprolol treatment for chronic heart failure initiated and followed up by primary care physicians
Author(s) -
Schuchert A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejheart.2004.03.008
Subject(s) - bisoprolol , medicine , heart failure , beta blocker , adverse effect , cardiology
Primary care physicians prescribe beta‐blockers for chronic heart failure infrequently. The aims of the study were to assess the effects of beta‐blocker treatment in out‐clinic patients with regard to NYHA class and frequency of adverse events. Beta‐blocker treatment was initiated and followed up by primary care physicians. Methods: Chronic heart failure patients already treated with ACE‐inhibitors and diuretics were included. The 24‐week follow‐up consisted of a titration phase followed by a maintenance phase. The patients received the beta‐blocker bisoprolol with an initial dose of 1.25 mg and a maximal dose of 10 mg. Results: NYHA class II, III and IV had 174, 146, and one patient, respectively. Treatment duration lasted 189±73 days with a maximal bisoprolol dose of 7.2±3.2 mg. Sixty‐one percent of the patients tolerated at least 7.5 mg bisoprolol. The NYHA class improved from 2.4±0.5 at baseline to 1.8±0.6 at week 24 ( P <0.001). At final assessment, 74% of the patients showed an improvement. The number of permanent treatment withdrawals was 57 (17%). Death occurred in six patients and hospitalisation in 38 patients. Conclusions: Bisoprolol treatment in patients with chronic heart failure was effectively and safely carried out by primary care physicians.