Six trials (13,370 patients) were included in the review.
All-cause mortality (6 studies).
Patients receiving BBs were less likely to die than those receiving placebo, but this difference did not quite reach statistical significance at the 5% level (RR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.53, 1.02). There was no evidence of statistical heterogeneity (p=0.411).
Among patients who received ACE-I or ARB at baseline, those who received BBs were significantly less likely to die than those who received placebo (RR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.83). There was evidence of statistical heterogeneity (p=0.001).
With the exclusion of one trial that investigated bucindolol, the authors found that among patients not receiving ACE-I or ARB at baseline, those who received BBs were less likely to die than those receiving placebo (RR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.43, 1.04); this difference did not quite reach statistical significance at the 5% level (p=0.073). Among patients who received ACE-I or ARB at baseline, those who received BB were significantly less likely to die than those who received placebo (RR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.60, 0.75).
Combined end point of death or HF hospitalisation (3 studies).
Patients receiving BBs were less likely to die than those receiving placebo, but this difference was not statistically significant at the 5% level (RR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.61, 1.08, p=0.148). The result of the test for heterogeneity was not reported.
Among patients who received ACE-I or ARB at baseline, those who received BBs were significantly less likely to die or be hospitalised for HF than those who received placebo (RR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.83, p<0.001). The result of the tet for heterogeneity was not reported.