ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
In-hospital use of beta-blockers for critically ill patients with acute heart failure: Whether and when to initiate
Authors' conclusion
The use of beta-blockers during hospitalization for AHF is associated with a reduced risk of in-hospital mortality, and withdrawal was associated with an increased risk of mortality.
Study context
- Population
- Critically ill patients with acute heart failure (AHF), MIMIC-IV version 2.2 database
- Exposure
- In-hospital beta-blocker use vs no beta-blockers; timing of initiation
- Outcome
- In-hospital mortality
Methodological detailsinverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), MIMIC-IV version 2.2 database
- Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW)
- MIMIC-IV version 2.2 database
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs not treatedOdds ratio (95 % CI)
Newly started
0.45(0.34–0.61)
Continued
0.53(0.41–0.69)
Withdrawn
2.59(1.63–4.10)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR (95 % CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-hospital mortality by timing of initiation (beta-blocker users; reference: treated before admission, first dose within 48 h)Not treated before admission, started after 48 h vs Treated before admission, first dose within 48 h | 0.82 (0.60–1.11) | P = 0.202 | |
| In-hospital mortality by timing of initiation (beta-blocker users; reference: treated before admission, first dose within 48 h)Previously treated, initiated after 48 h vs Treated before admission, first dose within 48 h | 0.44 (0.30–0.64) | P < 0.001 | |
| In-hospital mortality by timing of initiation (beta-blocker users; reference: treated before admission, first dose within 48 h)Not treated before admission, started within 48 h vs Treated before admission, first dose within 48 h | 0.65 (0.48–0.86) | P = 0.003 | |
| 0.20.5125Odds ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
In-hospital use of beta-blockers for critically ill patients with acute heart failure: Whether and when to initiate. J Clin Anesth. Published 7 April 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →