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Beta blockers therapy is associated with improved left ventricular systolic function and sustained exercise capacity in elderly patients with heart failure. CIBIS-ELD sub-study

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Abstract

Background: Exercise capacity is critical for therapy and prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). Effect of beta-blockers (BB) on exercise capacity in elderly patients with HF remains unclear. Objectives: To assess contribution of BB to functional capacity and left ventricular (LV) function in the elderly with HF. Design: According to the protocol of CIBIS-ELD study group, elderly patients were treated with BB during 12 weeks. In CPET subgroup, an integral part of the CIBIS ELD study group, patients were performed Doppler echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) before BB therapy and after 12 weeks. Setting: Randomized patients with HF beta blockers naïve. Participants: thirty patients with HF aged over 65 years were included in CPET subgroup, while 847 were incorporated in CIBIS ELD study group. Results: Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) after BB significantly decreased at rest (p<0.001) and during exercise (p<0.05), with sustained level of peak VO2. Observed changes of resting HR and peak HR were closely correlated (p<0.001). Significant improvement of LV ejection fraction after BB was obtained (p=0.003) and symptoms of breathlessness were reduced (p=0.001). Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction at rest significantly contributed to exercise capacity (p=0.019). Conclusions: Beta-blockers in elderly patients with HF are related to a significant decrease of HR and SBP, improvement of systolic LV function and sustained exercise tolerance. Resting LV diastolic dysfunction is strongly associated with lower exercise capacity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, University Clinical Center Zvezdara, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dimitrija Tucovica 161, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Milica Dekleva MD, PhD

  2. University Clinical Hospital Cherite Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Hans-Dirk Düngen, Simone Incrot & Elvis Tahirovic

  3. Clinical Trial Centre, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Götz Gelbrich

  4. University Clinical Centre Dr Dragisa Misovic, Belgrade, Serbia

    Jelena Suzic Lazic & Milena Pavlovic Kleut

  5. Sahlgenska University Hospital Goteborg, Goteborg, Sweden

    Finn Waagstein

Authors
  1. Milica Dekleva MD, PhD
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  2. Hans-Dirk Düngen
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  3. Götz Gelbrich
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  4. Simone Incrot
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  5. Jelena Suzic Lazic
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  6. Milena Pavlovic Kleut
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  7. Elvis Tahirovic
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  8. Finn Waagstein
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Correspondence to Milica Dekleva MD, PhD.

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Dekleva, M., Düngen, HD., Gelbrich, G. et al. Beta blockers therapy is associated with improved left ventricular systolic function and sustained exercise capacity in elderly patients with heart failure. CIBIS-ELD sub-study. Aging Clin Exp Res 24, 675–681 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03654848

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03654848

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