TY - JOUR T1 - Carvedilol reduced mortality and hospitalisation in severe chronic heart failure JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 173 LP - 173 DO - 10.1136/ebm.6.6.173 VL - 6 IS - 6 A2 - , Y1 - 2001/11/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/6/6/173.abstract N2 - (2001) N Engl J Med 344, 1651. Packer M, Coats AJ, Fowler MB, et al,. for the Carvedilol Prospective Randomized Cumulative Survival Study Group.. Effect of carvedilol on survival in severe chronic heart failure.. May 31;. :. –8.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
 
 QUESTION: In patients with severe chronic heart failure, does carvedilol, a β-blocker, reduce mortality and hospitalisation? Randomised {allocation concealed*}†, blinded (patients and clinicians),* placebo controlled trial with mean follow up of 10.4 months (Carvedilol Prospective Randomized Cumulative Survival Study [COPERNICUS]). 334 centres in 21 countries. 2289 patients (mean age 63 y, 80% men). Inclusion criteria were dyspnoea or fatigue at rest or on minimal exertion for ≥ 2 months; left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 25%; absence of rales and ascites; minimal or no peripheral oedema; not hospitalised for intensive care or continued inpatient care; and no recent intravenous inotropic agents or vasodilators. Exclusion criteria included chronic heart failure caused by uncorrected primary valvular disease or reversible cardiomyopathy; recent coronary revascularisation, acute myocardial, or cerebral ischaemic event, or ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation; systolic blood pressure < 85 mm Hg; heart rate 68 beats/minute; or serum creatinine level 2.8 mg/dl. Follow up was 100%. Patients were allocated to carvedilol 3.125 g twice daily for 2 weeks, which was then titrated to 25 mg twice dailyif tolerated … ER -