[Beta-blockers in cardiac insufficiency: should they always be considered in the therapeutic strategy? Arguments in favor].

Congestive heart failure is an increasing cause of mortality among the aging population. The current management approaches have increased the survival of patients with congestive heart failure, although the mortality rate remains high. Thus, any effort to reduce mortality in this condition seems justified. Beta-adrenergic blocking agents have shown to improve functional class and the ventricular function of heart failure patients; the use of these agents should be considered in congestive heart failure patients unless an increase in mortality with betablockers can be demonstrated. In fact, beta-blockers reduce mortality, as the recent study of carvedilol has demonstrated. Therefore, beta adrenergic blocking agents should be incorporated into the strategies of management of patients with congestive heart failure.