Victor Sarli Issa et al. Guilherme Vieira Guimarães Marcos Valério Coimbra Rezende Fátima das Dores Cruz … Silvia Moreira Ayub Ferreira Fernando Bacal Edimar Alcides Bocchi
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of bisoprolol on exercise capacity and ventricular function in patients with heart failure. METHODS: Clinical and hemodynamic variables, ventricular function and remodeling, and ergospirometry of patients with heart failure of different etiologies were evaluated before and after the administration of bisoprolol. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were analyzed; one patient did not tolerate medication and 14 patients reached the study goal. The group consisted of 9 men and 5 women, the mean age was 52 (36-64) years, and patients were followed during 551 days (238-1109). We observed an improvement in NYHA functional class, reduction in resting heart rate (78.8±8.7 vs 63±6.4 bpm, p <0.001), increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (31.3±8.5% vs 39±14.7%. p=0.043), and a tendency towards improved quality of life scores (31±20.6 vs 17.8±14.8. p=0.058). The maximum heart rate dropped during exercise (138.1±20.2 vs 116.7±27.1. p=0.01), as did peak oxygen consumption (20.9±6.8 vs 15.1±3.5. p<0.001); no change was observed on the EV/VCO2 slope. The effects were observed for all etiologies, including Chagas’ disease. CONCLUSION: Bisoprolol was safe and well tolerated in patients with heart failure. Bisoprolol therapy improved the symptoms, hemodynamic variables, as well as the cardiac function for all etiologies; however, it did not result in improved exercise capacity.