A negative correlation between heart rate and duration of life is consistently observed in heart failure trials, suggesting direct control of heart rate is a rational therapeutic target.
Does direct control of heart rate improve survival in heart failure patients?
Elevated heart rate is consistently associated with increased mortality in heart failure, supporting its role as a direct therapeutic target.
A common finding in all clinical trials on heart failure is a negative correlation between heart rate and duration of life. In several studies this was found in both patients taking and those not taking beta-blocker agents. In postinfarct patients increasing mortality with increasing heart rate was found in the absence and in the presence of left ventricular dysfunction. Moreover beneficial effects of neurohormonal modulators were found to be greater in heart failure patients with higher heart rate. Thus heart rate can be considered a target for medical intervention, and therapeutic attempts focused on direct control of heart rate have a good rationale.
Luigi Tavazzi (Mon,) conducted a review in Heart failure. Heart rate control was evaluated. A negative correlation between heart rate and duration of life is consistently observed in heart failure trials, suggesting direct control of heart rate is a rational therapeutic target.