BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The safety of rapid carvedilol up-titration in patients with depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is unknown. The aim of the present work was to assess whether carvedilol can be used safely and rapidly up-titrated before hospital discharge in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, with or without heart failure symptoms. METHODS: We studied 611 patients with LVEF less than 0.4 in whom carvedilol was used during hospital admission. RESULTS: Mean age was 66 years, 23% were women and 372 had symptoms of heart failure. Carvedilol was initiated 3 days after admission (median); 594 patients (97%) were discharged alive, 27 (5%) without beta-blockers. Carvedilol up-titration during admission was performed in 65%. The mean time of up-titration was 1 week, with a mean increase of 16 mg/day. The discharge dose was higher in younger patients and in those weighing more than 70 kg. Only 30 patients (5%) were re-admitted during the first month after discharge. At the end of follow-up (mean 2.3 years), 497 patients were alive and transplant-free (81%). Carvedilol mean daily dose at the end of follow-up was 32.4 +/- 22.2 mg and was related to the discharge dose. The absence of beta-blocker treatment at discharge was the most important independent predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio 3.1, 95% confidence interval 1.5-6.2, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Carvedilol up-titration is well tolerated in patients hospitalized with depressed LVEF, with or without heart failure, with a high compliance rate at discharge and in the long term.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The safety of rapid carvedilol up-titration in patients with depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is unknown. The aim of the present work was to assess whether carvedilol can be used safely and rapidly up-titrated before hospital discharge in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, with or without heart failure symptoms. METHODS: We studied 611 patients with LVEF less than 0.4 in whom carvedilol was used during hospital admission. RESULTS: Mean age was 66 years, 23% were women and 372 had symptoms of heart failure. Carvedilol was initiated 3 days after admission (median); 594 patients (97%) were discharged alive, 27 (5%) without beta-blockers. Carvedilol up-titration during admission was performed in 65%. The mean time of up-titration was 1 week, with a mean increase of 16 mg/day. The discharge dose was higher in younger patients and in those weighing more than 70 kg. Only 30 patients (5%) were re-admitted during the first month after discharge. At the end of follow-up (mean 2.3 years), 497 patients were alive and transplant-free (81%). Carvedilol mean daily dose at the end of follow-up was 32.4 +/- 22.2 mg and was related to the discharge dose. The absence of beta-blocker treatment at discharge was the most important independent predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio 3.1, 95% confidence interval 1.5-6.2, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION:Carvedilol up-titration is well tolerated in patients hospitalized with depressed LVEF, with or without heart failure, with a high compliance rate at discharge and in the long term.