Congestive heart failure beta blockers
Editors-In-Chief: James Chang, M.D., Cardiovascular Division Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston MA [1] and C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2], Cardiovascular Division Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston MA
Indications for Beta Blockers in CHF
Patient should be on HF approved Beta Blockers if:
1. Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40%
or
2. History of myocardial infarction (MI)
Background
- Beta blocker therapy is recommended for ANY patient with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (≤ 40%) regardless of the etiology of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ischemic or nonischemic) or presence/absence of symptoms. Patients with or without heart failure (in other words, even those with asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction) are included in this recommendation.
- Beta blockers approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of heart failure are metoprolol succinate and carvedilol. In Europe, bisoprolol is also approved for use in heart failure. In addition, beta blocker therapy is indicated for patients with history of myocardial infarction whether or not left ventricular systolic dysfunction or heart failure is present.
- Beta blocker therapy should be initiated at low dosage and gradually uptitrated, as tolerated, toward target dosages of 200 mg daily for metoprolol succinate and 25 mg twice daily for carvedilol, or to the maximum tolerated dosage.