A study suggests that the beta-blocker carvedilol offers some survival advantage for patients with heart failure.

Beta-blockers have already been shown to be helpful to patients with heart failure. A comparison study reported by researchers at the UK National Heart and Lung Institute now suggests that carvedilol offers survival advantage over metoprolol - both of which are beta-blockers.

A group of 3,000 patients with chronic heart failure was given twice daily doses of either carvedilol or metoprolol for around five years. Average life expectancy of those on carvedilol was eight years, compared to 6.6 years for those on metoprolol. During the study, 34 per cent of those on carvedilol died, compared to 40 per cent of those on metoprolol. This study might affect the way physicians prescribe beta-blockers in the future.

Source

The Lancet 5th July 2003