Effects of bisoprolol in patients with stable congestive heart failure.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To analyze the effect of bisoprolol in patients with stable congestive heart failure and who tolerated beta-blockers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and one patients performed before and 3 months after maximal tolerated doses of bisoprolol have been reached, a clinical evaluation, an echocardiography, a radionuclide angiography, a cardiopulmonary exercise test and hormonal determinations. RESULTS: Mean dose of bisoprolol was 8.8 +/- 2.4 mg/d. Patients had a significant improvement in NYHA classification. Heart rate at rest decreased from 87 +/- 17 to 66 +/- 12 beats/min (P < 0.0001) without any effect on electrocardiographic parameters. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 31 +/- 11 to 41 +/- 13% (P < 0.0001), with a significant decrease in end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricle diameters and volumes. Mitral profile improved. Peak VO2 increased from 16.1 +/- 5 to 16.8 +/- 5.5 ml/min/kg (P = 0.001) with a significant increase in O2 pulse (from 8.52 +/- 2.7 to 11.2 +/- 3.5 ml/min/beats, P < 0.0001). Plasma levels of A-type and of B-type natriuretic peptides and of norepinephrine significantly decreased after bisoprolol. CONCLUSIONS: Bisoprolol significantly improved left ventricle ejection fraction with a reverse remodeling of the left ventricle, a decrease in hormonal activation and a modest improvement in exercise capacity.

Outcomes of ventilated COPD patients with nosocomial tracheobronchitis: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of nosocomial tracheobronchitis (NTB) related to new bacteria on the outcome in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective observational case-control study was conducted in medical COPD patients requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. Patients with nosocomial pneumonia were excluded. Six matching criteria were used, including the duration of mechanical ventilation before NTB occurrence. RESULTS: 81 matched case-control pairs were studied. Although the mortality rate was similar (40% vs 34%; p = 0.48), median duration of mechanical ventilation (20 vs 12 days; p = 0.015) and intensive care unit (ICU) stay (25 vs 18 days; p = 0.022) were higher in cases than in controls. NTB was independently associated with a longer than median period of mechanical ventilation among case and control patients (OR = 4.7 [95%CI = 2-10.9]; p < 0.001). In cases with appropriate antibiotic treatment compared with those who did not receive antibiotics, a shorter median duration of mechanical ventilation (12 vs 23 days; p = 0.006) and ICU stay (16 vs 29 days; p = 0.029) were observed. CONCLUSION: NTB is associated with an increased duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stays. Further studies are required to determine whether antibiotics could improve the outcome of patients with NTB.