ABSTRACT
Fundamentos y objetivo: La prescripción de tratamiento con bloqueadores beta (BB) en pacientes ancianos con insuficiencia cardíaca (IC) es muy baja y está condicionada en gran medida por el temor a sus efectos secundarios. El objetivo de nuestro estudio ha sido determinar la seguridad y la tolerancia de los BB en pacientes ancianos con IC tratados en servicios de medicina interna. Material y métodos: Es un estudio observacional prospectivo, en condiciones de actuación según la práctica clínica habitual, en el que se incluyó a 119 pacientes mayores de 70 años con IC, atendidos en 10 servicios de medicina interna, que iniciaron tratamiento con un fármaco BB (carvedilol o bisoprolol) en el último mes. A los 6 meses de seguimiento se analizó el porcentaje de pacientes que continuaban en tratamiento BB, la dosis alcanzada y las causas de retirada de la medicación. Resultados: Al final del estudio, 100 pacientes (84%) continuaban bajo tratamiento con BB y 10 pacientes lo habían suspendido (8,4%). Se produjeron 3 muertes (2,5%), ninguna atribuida al tratamiento BB, y 6 pérdidas (5%). En total, el 38,7% de los pacientes alcanzó la dosis máxima. Los efectos adversos que motivaron la suspensión del tratamiento fueron hipotensión sintomática (3 casos [2,5%]), hipotensión asintomática (un caso [0,8%]), IC (2 casos [1,7%]), bradicardia (2 casos [1,7%]), broncoespasmo (un caso [0,8%]) y causa desconocida (un caso [0,8%]).Conclusiones: La seguridad y la tolerancia del uso de BB en los pacientes ancianos con IC tratados en la práctica clínica del internista son excelentes (AU)
Background and objetive: Prescription of beta-blockers (BB) in elderly patients with heart failure (HF) is very low, and it probably owes to an excessive concern about the risk of adverse reactions. The objective of our study was to determine the safety and tolerance of BB in elderly patients with HF in an Internal Medicine clinical practice. Material and methods: This observational prospective study of clinical practice included 119 patients older than 70 years with HF evaluated in 10 Internal Medicine services. Patients must have started treatment with BB (carvedilol or bisoprolol) within the last month. After 6 months of follow-up, the percentage of patients on BB, the dose achieved and the causes of withdrawal were analyzed.Results: At the end of the study, 100 patients (84%) were on BB treatment. There were 3 deaths (2.5%), none related to BB use, and 6 losses to follow-up (5%). The treatment was stopped in 10 patients (8.4%). Maximum dose was achieved in 38.7% of the patients. Adverse reactions responsible for treatment withdrawal were: symptomatic hypotension (3 cases; 2.5%); asymptomatic hypotension (1 case; 0.8%); heart failure (2 cases; 1.7%); bradycardia (2 cases; 1.7%); bronchospasm (1 case; 0.8%); and unknown cause (1 case; 0.8%).Conclusions: BB are excellently tolerated in elderly patients with HF treated in an Internal Medicine setting (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Aged , Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use , Heart Failure/drug therapy , Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/adverse effects , Drug Tolerance , Hypotension/chemically induced , Bronchial Spasm/chemically induced , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Prescription of beta-blockers (BB) in elderly patients with heart failure (HF) is very low, and it probably owes to an excessive concern about the risk of adverse reactions. The objective of our study was to determine the safety and tolerance of BB in elderly patients with HF in an Internal Medicine clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This observational prospective study of clinical practice included 119 patients older than 70 years with HF evaluated in 10 Internal Medicine services. Patients must have started treatment with BB (carvedilol or bisoprolol) within the last month. After 6 months of follow-up, the percentage of patients on BB, the dose achieved and the causes of withdrawal were analyzed. RESULTS: At the end of the study, 100 patients (84%) were on BB treatment. There were 3 deaths (2.5%), none related to BB use, and 6 losses to follow-up (5%). The treatment was stopped in 10 patients (8.4%). Maximum dose was achieved in 38.7% of the patients. Adverse reactions responsible for treatment withdrawal were: symptomatic hypotension (3 cases; 2.5%); asymptomatic hypotension (1 case; 0.8%); heart failure (2 cases; 1.7%); bradycardia (2 cases; 1.7%); bronchospasm (1 case; 0.8%); and unknown cause (1 case; 0.8%). CONCLUSIONS: BB are excellently tolerated in elderly patients with HF treated in an Internal Medicine setting.
Subject(s)
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use , Heart Failure/drug therapy , Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/adverse effects , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Prospective StudiesSubject(s)
Echocardiography, Doppler , Heart Atria/diagnostic imaging , Heart Failure/diagnosis , Ventricular Dysfunction/diagnosis , Age Factors , Aged , Atrial Fibrillation/complications , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Heart Failure/epidemiology , Heart Failure/mortality , Heart Failure/physiopathology , Humans , Prevalence , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Ventricular Dysfunction/physiopathologyABSTRACT
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