Comparative Effects of Carvedilol vs Bisoprolol for Severe Congestive Heart Failure - Special Reference to Atrial Fibrillation -

217 adults with severe heart failure (NYHA Class 3 or 4) admitted for acute decompensated HF, mean age ~67, Japanese cohort. Excluded: acute coronary syndromes, acute pneumonia, severe valvular disease, end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis, or prior beta-blocker use before admission.

Bisoprolol (initial mean dose 2.22 mg/day, titrated to mean 3.37 mg/day) oral daily for 18 months

Carvedilol (initial mean dose 3.31 mg/day, titrated to mean 7.38 mg/day) oral daily for 18 months

Survival rate (proportion of patients who had not died from any cause) and cardiac event-free rate (proportion of patients with no cardiac events such as ACS and deterioration of ADHF) at 18 monthshard clinical