The Beta-Blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial Investigators (BEST)
Objectives:
The Beta-Blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial was
designed to determine whether bucindolol hydrochloride- a nonselective
beta-adrenergic blocker and mild vasodilator- would reduce the rate of death
from any cause among patients with advanced heart failure and to assess its
effects in various subgroups defined by ethnic background and demographic
criteria- specifically women and members of minority groups.
Background:
Although beta-adrenergic-receptor antagonists reduce
morbidity and Mortality in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic heart
failure, their effort on survival in patients with more advanced heart failure
is unknown.
Subjects:
A total of 2,708 patients with heat failure and a left
ventricular ejection fraction of 35 percent or lower were randomly assigned to
double-blind treatment with either bucindolol (1,354 patients) or placebo
(1,354 patients) and followed for the primary end point of death from any
cause.
Conclusions:
Bucindolol resulted in no significant overall survival
benefit. (N Engl J Med 2001;344:1659-67)
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