Annals of internal medicine
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Meta Analysis
Meta-analysis: beta-blocker dose, heart rate reduction, and death in patients with heart failure.
Guidelines recommend that patients with heart failure receive beta-blockers in doses used in the trials that have proven their efficacy. Although the adverse effects of beta-blockade are dose-related, it is unclear whether the benefits are. ⋯ The magnitude of heart rate reduction is statistically significantly associated with the survival benefit of beta-blockers in heart failure, whereas the dose of beta-blocker is not.