Tolerability, safety, and efficacy of beta-blockade in black patients with heart failure in the community setting: insights from a large prospective beta-blocker registry

Congest Heart Fail. 2007 Jan-Feb;13(1):16-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1527-5299.2007.888111.x.

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) clinical trials suggest different responses of blacks and whites to beta-blockers. Differences between clinical trial and community settings may also have an impact. The Carvedilol Heart Failure Registry (COHERE) observed experience with carvedilol in 4280 patients with HF in a community setting. This analysis compares characteristics, outcomes, and carvedilol dosing of blacks and whites in COHERE. Compared with whites (n=3433), blacks (n=523) had more severe HF symptoms despite similar systolic function. At similar carvedilol maintenance doses, symptoms improved in 33% of blacks vs 28% of whites, while worsening in 10% and 11%, respectively (both nonsignificant), and HF hospitalization rates were reduced comparably in both groups (-58% vs -56%, respectively; both P<.001). Incidence and hazard ratios of death were similar in blacks and whites (6.9% vs 7.5%, hazard ratio 1.2 vs 1.0, P=.276). Thus carvedilol was similarly effective in blacks and whites with HF in the community setting, consistent with carvedilol clinical trials.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Black or African American*
  • Carbazoles / administration & dosage
  • Carbazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Carvedilol
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / ethnology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Propanolamines / administration & dosage
  • Propanolamines / therapeutic use*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Carbazoles
  • Propanolamines
  • Carvedilol