The effect of beta-blockers on health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure

beta-Blockers reduce the risk of death in patients with heart failure and a re recommended in those with stable class II or III disease despite optimal standard therapy Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an increasingly important end point in clinical trials. We reviewed all studies that deter mined the effect of beta-blockers on HRQOL in patients with heart failure. In these trials, HRQOL was assessed by the Quality of Life Questionnaire in Severe Heart Failure and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionn aire. Three of the 10 studies that used either of these instruments reporte d significant improvements in scores. When HRQOL was determined by a single -question global assessment, substantial improvements were observed by pati ents and physicians in five of the seven studies that used the instrument. Possible reasons for the lack of consistent effect on HRQOL include lack of responsiveness of currently available instruments, incomplete data collect ion, and true lack of effect of beta-blockers on HRQOL in these patients.