<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Background:</bold> Recent scientific data demonstrated a potential beneficial effect of beta-blocker (BB) therapy in cardiac patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our aim was to characterize the use of beta-blockers in these patients, in “real-life” conditions.<bold>Material and methods:</bold> We collected retrospectively the data of 60 consecutive cardiac patients (51 men, 9 women, mean age 67 years) with the concomitant diagnosis of COPD: main cardiac conditions, presence and reason of BB therapy, type of drug and dosage, main ECG and echocardiographic parameters, medication and data regarding COPD. Besides descriptive statistics, we compared the data of patients with and without BB therapy (chi-square test, level of significance alpha &lt;0.05) in order to identify factors associated with BB usage.<bold>Results:</bold> In our study population, 41.6% of the patients had received BB treatment, the most frequently used drug being bisoprolol 2.5 mg and 5 mg q.d. (28%-28%), followed by carvedilol (32%). The prevalence of BB therapy was 51.2% in heart failure patients (48% in NYHA class III and IV, and 66.6% in dilated cardiomyopathy), 38.4% in hypertension, 81.8% in ischemic artery disease, and 64.7% in subjects with atrial fibrillation. The usage of BB therapy was significantly associated with the presence of heart failure (p = 0.047), dilated cardiomyopathy (p = 0.034), ischemic heart disease (p = 0.005), previous myocardial infarction (p = 0.003) and, inversely, with the acute exacerbation of COPD (p = 0.006).<bold>Conclusions:</bold> Despite the fact that every cardiac patient with COPD had a potential indication for BB treatment, this was used insufficiently, especially in case of heart failure patients. In daily practice, there is a need for continuous review and improvement of BB usage in these patients.</abstract>

Background: Recent scientific data demonstrated a potential beneficial effect of beta-blocker (BB) therapy in cardiac patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our aim was to characterize the use of beta-blockers in these patients, in “real-life” conditions.Material and methods: We collected retrospectively the data of 60 consecutive cardiac patients (51 men, 9 women, mean age 67 years) with the concomitant diagnosis of COPD: main cardiac conditions, presence and reason of BB therapy, type of drug and dosage, main ECG and echocardiographic parameters, medication and data regarding COPD. Besides descriptive statistics, we compared the data of patients with and without BB therapy (chi-square test, level of significance alpha <0.05) in order to identify factors associated with BB usage.Results: In our study population, 41.6% of the patients had received BB treatment, the most frequently used drug being bisoprolol 2.5 mg and 5 mg q.d. (28%-28%), followed by carvedilol (32%). The prevalence of BB therapy was 51.2% in heart failure patients (48% in NYHA class III and IV, and 66.6% in dilated cardiomyopathy), 38.4% in hypertension, 81.8% in ischemic artery disease, and 64.7% in subjects with atrial fibrillation. The usage of BB therapy was significantly associated with the presence of heart failure (p = 0.047), dilated cardiomyopathy (p = 0.034), ischemic heart disease (p = 0.005), previous myocardial infarction (p = 0.003) and, inversely, with the acute exacerbation of COPD (p = 0.006).Conclusions: Despite the fact that every cardiac patient with COPD had a potential indication for BB treatment, this was used insufficiently, especially in case of heart failure patients. In daily practice, there is a need for continuous review and improvement of BB usage in these patients.

Characteristics of Beta-blocker Treatment in Cardiac Patients with Concomitant Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș,

Department of Cardiology, County Emergency Hospital, Miercurea Ciuc,

Department of Cardiology, County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Tîrgu Mureș,

Department of Internal Medicine VII, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș,

Journal of Interdisciplinary Medicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Background: Recent scientific data demonstrated a potential beneficial effect of beta-blocker (BB) therapy in cardiac patients with chronic obstructive...

Characteristics of Beta-blocker Treatment in Cardiac Patients with Concomitant Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published Online: Dec 29, 2016

Page range: 276 - 279

Received: Oct 07, 2016

Accepted: Nov 05, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jim-2016-0056

Keywords
beta-adrenergic blockers, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

© 2016 Attila Frigy et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Characteristics of Beta-blocker Treatment in Cardiac Patients with Concomitant Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published Online: Dec 29, 2016

Page range: 276 - 279

Received: Oct 07, 2016

Accepted: Nov 05, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jim-2016-0056

Keywordsbeta-adrenergic blockers, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

© 2016 Attila Frigy et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
beta-adrenergic blockers, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease