Is Current Drug Therapy for Heart Failure Sufficient to Control Heart Rate of Patients?

Abstract Background Studies have shown that heart failure (HF) patients with heart rate (HR) 70 bpm. However, many HF patients maintain an elevated HR. Objective To evaluate HR and the prescription of medications known to reduce mortality in HF patients attending an outpatient cardiology clinic. Methods We consecutively evaluated patients seen in an outpatient cardiology clinic, aged older than 18 years, with diagnosis of HF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 70 bpm (G2). The Student’s t-test and the chi-square test were used in the statistical analysis, and a p-value 70 bpm (G2). Mean HR of G1 and G2 was 61.5±5.3 bpm and 81.8±9.5 bpm, respectively (p