TY - JOUR T1 - Do patients suffering from heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) tolerate beta blocker (BB) treatment? JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - 2962 AU - Teresa Gil AU - Carmen Medina AU - Leticia Fernández AU - Francisco Javier Martínez AU - Antonio Ramírez AU - Juan Ramόn Siles AU - Francisco Ruiz Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/2962.abstract N2 - Justification and objectives: In clinical practice the use of BB in patients with COPD is frequently avoided due to the risk of their inducing bronchospasm. Nevertheless, cardioselective BB use under strict monitoring may be well tolerated by and beneficial for many patients with HF and COPD.Methods: We analized our experience with patients suffering from both HF and COPD who were given outpatient BB treatment. Those suffering from severe COPD were excluded.Results: The group to be treated was made of 43 patients aged 63±8 with an average fraction ejection of 29, 2±6%, 60% of them of ischemic heart disease etiology. Patients were separated in two groups: Group A, patients with airways obstruction and significant reversibility after bronchodilator test (FEVI>80 y FEV1/FVC <0,7). Group B patients with confirmed fixed airways obstruction mild or moderate (FEV1 75.45±7.75%. FEV1/FVC 0.60±0.51). All patients started treatment with BB in low doses, which were gradually increased up to maximum tolerated ones, no acute episodes of respiratory failure being shown in a 11±3 months follow-up care period. The BB dosage had to be limited before reaching optimal levels in just 5 patients due to worsening dyspnea. According to NYHA classification, their functional status improved after the use of these drugs (p<0,01).Conclusion: The use of BB under specialized cardiologist monitoring can be beneficial for patients suffering from both HF and mild-moderate COPD. The consequences of depriving patients of this treatment could be more harmful than the possible respiratory complications that might set in after its administration. ER -