The use of beta-blockers for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in the era of SGLT2 inhibitors – are we still afraid to up-titrate?

The use of beta-blockers for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in the era of SGLT2 inhibitors – are westill afraid to up-titrate?DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-025-02525-7Beta-blockers are one of the four major pillars of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The therapy has presented the best effects when up-titrated to evidence-based target doses. Despite their proven benefits, physicians have traditionally shown reluctance to up-titrate beta-blockersbecause of their negative inotropic and chronotropic effects. The effects of newly introduced sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2I) in treatingheart failure with reduced ejection fraction might open more room for adequate beta-blockers up-titration. The goal of this study was to evaluate the up-titration practice, and impact of target doses of beta-blockers in patientswith heart failure with reduced ejection fraction receiving sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. This is a prospective cohort study involving patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction receiving sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors therapy. Baseline use and dosing to the evidence-based targets were examined. We compared the groups of patients receiving maximally titrated beta-blockers versus incompletely titrated.Primary outcome was composite of (1) rehospitalization or revisit to emergency unit due to the heart failure; (2) all-cause death and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Secondary outcomes were heart rate at rest, left ventricularejection fraction, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and New York Heart Association status at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Study endpoints were documented via telephone interviews, regular outpatient follow-up, or by electronic hospital records. This study included a total of 458 patients with median follow-up time of 365 (186–502) days. A total of 122 (26.6%) patients had beta-blockers maximally up-titrated. The results show that adherence to maximal target doses of β-blocker therapy significantly reduces hazard of death or Major adverse cardiac events comparing to not using maximal doses of β-blocker (factor 0.43). Hazard reduction was not statistically significant for composite of rehospitalization or revisit to emergency unit due to HF. Maximal doses of beta-blockers did not result in a significant decrease in resting heart rate. Our real-world data have highlighted the prevalence of incomplete titration of beta-blockers. Although it has been shown that evidence-basedtarget dosing of beta-blockers reduces death and Major adverse cardiac events, there is still room for improvement with up-titrating beta-blockers in eligible patients.Disclaimer:Lupin makes no representation or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any scientific information shared by the HCP on the ­­­STARUPDATE podcast. You should not allow the contents of this to substitute for your own medical judgment, which you should exercise in evaluating the information on this website.