Has Beta-blocker Use Increased in Patients With Heart Failure in Internal Medicine Settings? Prognostic Implications: RICA Registry

Underuse of beta-blockers has been reported in elderly patients with heart failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current prescription of beta-blockers in the internal medicine setting, and its association with morbidity and mortality in heart failure patients. The information analyzed was obtained from a prospective cohort of patients hospitalized for heart failure (RICA registry] database, patients included from March 2008 to September 2011) with at least one year of follow-up. We investigated the percentage of patients prescribed beta-blockers at hospital discharge, and at 3 and 12 months, and the relationship of beta-blocker use with mortality and readmissions for heart failure. Patients with significant valve disease were excluded. A total of 515 patients were analyzed (53.5% women), with a mean age of 77.1 (8.7) years. Beta-blockers were prescribed in 62.1% of patients at discharge. A similar percentage was found at 3 months (65.6%) and 12 months (67.9%) after discharge. All-cause mortality and the composite of all-cause mortality and readmission for heart failure were significantly lower in patients treated with beta-blockers (hazard ratio=0.59, 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.84 vs hazard ratio=0.64, 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.83). This decrease in mortality was maintained after adjusting by age, sex, ejection fraction, functional class, comorbidities, and concomitant treatment. The findings of this study indicate that beta-blocker use is increasing in heart failure patients (mainly elderly) treated in the internal medicine setting, and suggest that the use of these drugs is associated with a reduction in clinical events. Se ha descrito una infrautilización de bloqueadores beta en pacientes de edad avanzada con insuficiencia cardiaca. El objetivo es determinar el grado de prescripción actual de bloqueadores beta en servicios de medicina interna y su asociación con la morbimortalidad. La información analizada se obtuvo de los datos de una cohorte prospectiva de pacientes hospitalizados por insuficiencia cardiaca (registro RICA, incluidos entre marzo de 2008 y septiembre de 2011) con al menos 1 año de seguimiento. Se evaluaron los porcentajes de prescripción de bloqueadores beta al alta hospitalaria, a los 3 meses y al año, y su asociación con la mortalidad y los reingresos hospitalarios. Se excluyó a los pacientes con valvulopatía significativa. Se analizó a 515 pacientes (el 53,5% mujeres; media de edad, 77,1 ± 8,7 años). La prescr