Bisoprolol reduced mortality in heart failure patients with sinus rhythm (RR 0.58, P<0.001) but not in those with atrial fibrillation (RR 1.16, P=NS), independent of baseline heart rate.
RCT
Does bisoprolol reduce mortality and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with chronic heart failure across different baseline heart rates, heart rate changes, and cardiac rhythms?
Bisoprolol improves survival in chronic heart failure patients with sinus rhythm regardless of baseline heart rate or heart rate reduction, but its benefit in patients with atrial fibrillation is questionable.
Effect estimate: RR 0.58
p-value: p=<0.001
BACKGROUND: beta-Blockade-induced benefit in heart failure (HF) could be related to baseline heart rate and treatment-induced heart rate reduction, but no such relationships have been demonstrated. METHODS AND RESULTS: In CIBIS II, we studied the relationships between baseline heart rate (BHR), heart rate changes at 2 months (HRC), nature of cardiac rhythm (sinus rhythm or atrial fibrillation), and outcomes (mortality and hospitalization for HF). Multivariate analysis of CIBIS II showed that in addition to beta-blocker treatment, BHR and HRC were both significantly related to survival and hospitalization for worsening HF, the lowest BHR and the greatest HRC being associated with best survival and reduction of hospital admissions. No interaction between the 3 variables was observed, meaning that on one hand, HRC-related improvement in survival was similar at all levels of BHR, and on the other hand, bisoprolol-induced benefit over placebo for survival was observed to a similar extent at any level of both BHR and HRC. Bisoprolol reduced mortality in patients with sinus rhythm (relative risk 0.58, P:<0.001) but not in patients with atrial fibrillation (relative risk 1.16, P:=NS). A similar result was observed for cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for HF worsening. CONCLUSIONS: BHR and HRC are significantly related to prognosis in heart failure. beta-Blockade with bisoprolol further improves survival at any level of BHR and HRC and to a similar extent. The benefit of bisoprolol is questionable, however, in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Lechat et al. (2001) conducted an RCT in Chronic Heart Failure. Bisoprolol vs. Placebo was evaluated on Mortality in patients with sinus rhythm (RR 0.58, p=<0.001). Bisoprolol reduced mortality in heart failure patients with sinus rhythm (RR 0.58, P<0.001) but not in those with atrial fibrillation (RR 1.16, P=NS), independent of baseline heart rate.