Hospitalization provides an opportunity to re-evaluate patient care, including optimization of current therapy and planning of longer-term management. A substantial proportion of patients hospitalized with HFrEF have an elevated heart rate at discharge, and a heart rate ≥70 bpm is associated with increased risk of mortality or hospitalization.
This paper discusses the effects of in-hospital co-administration of a β-blocker and ivabradine versus a β-blocker alone on mortality, rehospitalization, and quality of life in hospitalized patients taking part in the Optimize Heart Failure Care Program in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
In this retrospective analysis, heart rate-lowering therapy with a β-blocker + ivabradine started in hospitalized HF patients was associated with reduced overall mortality and re-hospitalization over the subsequent 12 months.
Link to article:
Lopatin YM, Cowie MR, Grebennikova AA, [IJC]
Optimization of heart rate lowering therapy in hospitalized patients with heart failure:
Insights from the Optimize Heart Failure Care Program.
Int J Cardiol. 2018 Jun 1;260:113-117.
Link to editorial:
Stewart Coats AJ. [IJC]
Heart rate as a target: Ready for pole position? Int J Cardiol. 2018 Jun 1;260:131-132.