Efficacy of beta blockers in patients with heart failure plus atrial fibrillation: an individual-patient data meta-analysis

Dipak Kotecha, Jane Holmes, Henry Krum, Douglas G Altman, Luis Manzano, John GF Cleland, Gregory YH Lip, Andrew Justin Stewart Coats, Bert Andersson, Paulus Kirchhof, Thomas G von Lueder, Hans Wedel, Giuseppe Rosano, Marcelo Shibata, Alan Rigby, Marcus Flather

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473 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation and heart failure often coexist, causing substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. ? blockers are indicated in patients with symptomatic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; however, the efficacy of these drugs in patients with concomitant atrial fibrillation is uncertain. We therefore meta-analysed individual-patient data to assess the efficacy of ? blockers in patients with heart failure and sinus rhythm compared with atrial fibrillation. Methods: We extracted individual-patient data from ten randomised controlled trials of the comparison of ? blockers versus placebo in heart failure. The presence of sinus rhythm or atrial fibrillation was ascertained from the baseline electrocardiograph. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Analysis was by intention to treat. Outcome data were meta-analysed with an adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression. The study is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT0083244, and PROSPERO, number CRD42014010012. Findings: 18 254 patients were assessed, and of these 13 946 (76 ) had sinus rhythm and 3066 (17 ) had atrial fibrillation at baseline. Crude death rates over a mean follow-up of 1?5 years (SD 1?1) were 16 (2237 of 13 945) in patients with sinus rhythm and 21 (633 of 3064) in patients with atrial fibrillation. ?-blocker therapy led to a significant reduction in all-cause mortality in patients with sinus rhythm (hazard ratio 0?73, 0?67-0?80; p
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2235 - 2243
Number of pages9
JournalThe Lancet
Volume384
Issue number9961
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

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