Impact of Renal Impairment on Beta-Blocker Efficacy in Patients With Heart Failure

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019 Dec 10;74(23):2893-2904. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.09.059.

Abstract

Background: Moderate and moderately severe renal impairment are common in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, but whether beta-blockers are effective is unclear, leading to underuse of life-saving therapy.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate patient prognosis and the efficacy of beta-blockers according to renal function using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Methods: Analysis of 16,740 individual patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <50% from 10 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials was performed. The authors report all-cause mortality on an intention-to-treat basis, adjusted for baseline covariates and stratified by heart rhythm.

Results: Median eGFR at baseline was 63 (interquartile range: 50 to 77) ml/min/1.73 m2; 4,584 patients (27.4%) had eGFR 45 to 59 ml/min/1.73 m2, and 2,286 (13.7%) 30 to 44 ml/min/1.73 m2. Over a median follow-up of 1.3 years, eGFR was independently associated with mortality, with a 12% higher risk of death for every 10 ml/min/1.73 m2 lower eGFR (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10% to 15%; p < 0.001). In 13,861 patients in sinus rhythm, beta-blockers reduced mortality versus placebo; adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 0.73 for eGFR 45 to 59 ml/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI: 0.62 to 0.86; p < 0.001) and 0.71 for eGFR 30 to 44 ml/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI: 0.58 to 0.87; p = 0.001). The authors observed no deterioration in renal function over time in patients with moderate or moderately severe renal impairment, no difference in adverse events comparing beta-blockers with placebo, and higher mortality in patients with worsening renal function on follow-up. Due to exclusion criteria, there were insufficient patients with severe renal dysfunction (eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2) to draw conclusions. In 2,879 patients with atrial fibrillation, there was no reduction in mortality with beta-blockers at any level of eGFR.

Conclusions: Patients with heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction <50% and sinus rhythm should receive beta-blocker therapy even with moderate or moderately severe renal dysfunction.

Keywords: beta-blockers; heart failure; mortality; renal impairment.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Aged
  • Cause of Death / trends
  • Comorbidity
  • Disease Progression
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate / drug effects
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate / physiology*
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / epidemiology
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Renal Insufficiency / epidemiology
  • Renal Insufficiency / physiopathology*
  • Stroke Volume / drug effects
  • Stroke Volume / physiology*
  • Survival Rate / trends
  • Ventricular Function, Left / drug effects
  • Ventricular Function, Left / physiology*

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists