A new meta-analysis challenges the notion that β-blockers improve survival in patients with heart failure (HF) and concomintant atrial fibrillation (AF). These results should be interpreted with caution. Although the mortality reduction conferred by β-blockers was likely overestimated in the past, benefits should be expected in a sizeable proportion of patients with HF and AF.
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Acknowledgements
P.K. is supported by a Canada Research Chair in Electrophysiology and Adult Congenital Heart Disease.
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Khairy, P., Roy, D. Challenging the status quo: β-blockers for HF plus AF. Nat Rev Cardiol 11, 690–692 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2014.166
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2014.166
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