Journal of Cardiac Failure
Volume 17, Issue 9 , Pages 703-709, September 2011

Comparative Long Term Effects of Nebivolol and Carvedilol in Hypertensive Heart Failure Patients

• Giuseppe Marazzi, MD, PhD,
• Maurizio Volterrani, MDGiuseppe Caminiti, MDLuigi Iaia, MDRosalba Massaro, MDCristiana Vitale, MD, PhDBarbara Sposato, MD
• Giuseppe Mercuro, MDGiuseppe Rosano, MD, PhD

Received 14 May 2010; received in revised form 1 May 2011; accepted 3 May 2011. published online 17 June 2011.

Abstract

Beta-blockers improve left ventricular (LV) systolic function and prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), but their different pleiotropic properties may influence their cardiovascular effects. This open-label study compared the effects of long-term treatment with nebivolol versus carvedilol on LV ejection fraction (LVEF), in hypertensive CHF patients. Secondary end points were to assess the effect of the 2 beta-blockers on exercise capacity and clinical outcome.

Methods and Results

A total of 160 hypertensive CHF patients, with LVEF <40% and in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I, II, or III, were randomly assigned to receive nebivolol or carvedilol for 24 months. At baseline and at the end of treatment, all patients underwent clinical evaluation, echocardiography, and 6-minute walking test. The target doses were 10 mg/d for nebivolol and 50 mg/d for carvedilol. Compared with baseline values, LVEF increased by a similar extent in the carvedilol (C) and nebivolol (N) groups (C from 36.1% (SD 1.5%) to 40.9% (SD 1.9%), P < .001; N from 34.1% (SD 1.8%) to 38.5% (SF 2.2%), P < .001). Heart rate and NYHA functional class decreased significantly in both groups, and the 6-minute walking distance increased (C from 420 m (SD 104 m) to 490 m (SD 115 m), P < .001; N from 421 m (SD 118 m) to 487 m (SD 138 m), P < .001). During 24 months, 21 carvedilol recipients (26%) and 18 nebivolol recipients (22%) had cardiac events, including 3 and 4 deaths, respectively.

Conclusion

In the long term, nebivolol and carvedilol appear to be similarly effective in the treatment of hypertensive patients with CHF.