Aggressive beta-blocker titration in stabilized acute heart failure patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction.

OBJECTIVES

A beta-blocker should be initiated in patients with stable acute heart failure (AHF). Beta-blocker titration should be conducted after a two-week interval. The benefits of aggressive beta-blocker titration are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the aggressive beta-blocker titration outcomes in stabilized AHF patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, we analysed clinical data from the heart failure (HF) registry. AHF Patients with LVEF <40% were divided into aggressive and guideline-directed beta-blocker titration groups. The composite of worsening HF, ventricular arrhythmia, and mortality during hospitalization were defined as the primary outcomes. We considered secondary outcomes as the components of primary outcomes and also the outcomes during a 90-day follow-up after hospital discharge, including HF readmission and mortality.

RESULTS

The primary outcomes between both groups were not significantly different (12.3% vs 24.4%; relative risk [RR] 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.25-1.01;  = 0.055). However, the aggressive beta-blocker titration reduced ventricular arrhythmia events (5.7% vs 17.8%; RR 0.32; 95% CI 0.12-0.84;  = 0.016). The 90-day HF readmission rate (2.6% vs 7.5%; RR 0.35; 95% CI 0.07-1.66;  = 0.179) and mortality rate (4.3% vs 5%; RR 0.87; 95% CI 0.18-4.31;  = 1.000) between both groups were not found to be significantly different.

CONCLUSION

Compared to the guideline-directed beta-blocker titration, the aggressive beta-blocker titration was safe in low LVEF AHF patients who have been previously stabilized. Additionally, aggressive beta-blocker titration effectively reduced ventricular arrhythmia events.