TY - JOUR T1 - Controlled and extended release metoprolol reduced death, hospital admissions, and symptoms in chronic heart failure JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 142 LP - 142 DO - 10.1136/ebm.5.5.142 VL - 5 IS - 5 A2 - , Y1 - 2000/09/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/5/5/142.abstract N2 - (2000) JAMA 283, 1295. Hjalmarson A, Goldstein S, Fagerberg B, et al. , for the MERIT-HF Study Group.. Effects of controlled-release metoprolol on total mortality, hospitalizations, and well-being in patients with heart failure: the Metoprolol CR/XL Randomized Intervention Trial in Congestive Heart Failure (MERIT-HF).. Mar 8;. :. –1302.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
 
 QUESTION: In patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure, do controlled and extended release metoprolol succinate (a β-blocker) reduce mortality, hospital admissions, and symptoms? Randomised (allocation concealed*), blinded (outcome assessor, {patients, and clinicians}†),* placebo controlled trial with a mean follow up of 1 year. 313 investigational sites in the US and 13 European countries. 3991 patients (mean age 64 y, 78% men) who had had symptomatic heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class II to IV) for ≥3 months, a decreased ejection fraction (≤ 0.40), and a resting heart rate ≥68 beats/minute and had received optimal treatment for ≥2 weeks before randomisation. Exclusion criteria included acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris ≤ 28 … ER -