Why the study?
Does beta-blocker therapy safely improve cardiac function and natriuretic peptide levels in elderly patients with dilated cardiomyopathy compared to younger patients?
Does beta-blocker therapy safely improve cardiac function and natriuretic peptide levels in elderly patients with dilated cardiomyopathy compared to younger patients?
Beta-blocker therapy is safe, well-tolerated, and equally effective at improving cardiac function and reducing natriuretic peptides in both elderly and younger patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Supports beta-blocker benefits in elderly DCM patients; leaves open need for randomized confirmation of age-equivalence.
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether beta-blocker therapy can be safely administered to and improve cardiac function of elderly patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Echocardiography and measurement of the concentrations of natriuretic peptides were carried out in 67 patients with DCM before and after 6 months of beta-blocker therapy: 20 patients >/=65 years of age (older group); 47 <65 years of age (younger group). In all patients, beta-blocker was safely administered and well tolerated. There was no significant difference in the dose of beta-blocker between 2 groups. A reduction in the left ventricular dimensions and an associated increase in ejection fraction occurred in both treatment groups. The beta-blocker treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the concentrations of natriuretic peptides in both groups. In conclusion, beta-blocker therapy is well-tolerated and has similar effects on cardiac function in older and younger patients with DCM.
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Hara et al. (2003) studied this question.
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