Comparison of therapeutic effect among carvedilol and metoprolol in long-term treating elderly patients with chronic heart failure

Objective This study was performed to compare the long-term clinical efficacy of treatment with metoprolol versus carvedilol in elderly patients with chronic heart failure.Methods 82 patients with chronic congestive heart failure requiring diuretic therapy and with left ventricular dysfunction(NYHA Ⅱ～Ⅳ)were randomized to treatment with carvediol(n=40)or metoprolol(n=42).The two groups both were given to standard therapy(ACEI,diuretic,sodium nitroprusside,digitoxin)in addition to carvedilol of metoprolol.One year after the previous treatment,response was assessed by LVEDD,LVESD,LV ejection fraction and New York Heart Association class.Results A year after the previous treatment,both carvedilol and metolprolol produced highly significant improvement in LVEF,LVEDD,LVESD as well as LV ejection fraction,and New York Heart Association functional class.Compared with metoprolol,Carvedilol had a significantly greater effect on LV end-diastolic dimension,LVESD and LV ejection(P0.01),however,on New York Heart Association functional class(P0.05).Conclusion Compared with metoprolol,long-term treatment with Carvedilol can gain more benefit in elderly patients with chronic heart failure.