JACC
HOME SUBSCRIPTIONS CURRENT ISSUE PAST ISSUES CARDIOSOURCE SEARCH HELP FEEDBACK
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Am Coll Cardiol, 2007; 49:963-971, doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2006.10.059 (Published online 16 February 2007).
© 2007 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow View definitions of modes of death
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
j.jacc.2006.10.059v1
49/9/963    most recent
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Remme, W. J.
Right arrow Articles by Lukas, M. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Remme, W. J.
Right arrow Articles by Lukas, M. A.

CLINICAL RESEARCH: HEART FAILURE

Carvedilol Protects Better Against Vascular Events Than Metoprolol in Heart Failure

Results From COMET

Willem J. Remme, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA, FESC*,*, Christian Torp-Pedersen, MD, FESC, FACC{dagger}, John G.F. Cleland, MD, FRCP, FESC, FACC{ddagger}, Philip A. Poole-Wilson, MD, FRCP, FESC, FACC§, Marco Metra, MD||, Michel Komajda, MD, PhD, FESC, Karl Swedberg, MD, PhD, FESC, FACC#, Andrea Di Lenarda, MD, FESC**, Phillip Spark, BSc (Hons){dagger}{dagger}, Armin Scherhag, MD{ddagger}{ddagger},1, Christine Moullet, MD{ddagger}{ddagger},1 and Mary Ann Lukas, MD§§,1

* Sticares Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rhoon, the Netherlands
{dagger} Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
{ddagger} University of Hull, Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdom
§ National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
|| Department of Cardiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
Pitié Salpetrière Hospital, Paris, France
# Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
** Ospedale di Cattinara, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
{dagger}{dagger} Nottingham Clinical Research Group, Nottingham, United Kingdom
{ddagger}{ddagger} F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland
§§ GlaxoSmithKline, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Manuscript received August 17, 2006; revised manuscript received October 26, 2006, accepted October 30, 2006.

* Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Willem J. Remme, Sticares Cardiovascular Research Foundation, P.O. Box 882, 3160 AB Rhoon, the Netherlands. (Email: w.j.remme{at}sticares.org).


   Abstract
Top
 Abstract
Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Conclusions
 Appendix
 References
 
Objectives: We explored whether vascular protection by carvedilol could contribute to its superior effects in the treatment of heart failure (HF) compared with metoprolol tartrate in the COMET (Carvedilol Or Metoprolol European Trial) study.

Background: Full adrenergic blockade by carvedilol and additional (e.g., antioxidative) properties may lead to vascular protection relative to beta-1 blockade alone, and contribute to its efficacy in HF treatment.

Methods: Three thousand twenty-nine patients with HF due to ischemic (51%) or idiopathic cardiomyopathy (44%) were randomized double-blind to carvedilol (n = 1,511) or metoprolol (n = 1,518) and followed for 58 months. Vascular end points were cardiovascular death, stroke, stroke death, myocardial infarction (MI), and unstable angina.

Results: The effect of carvedilol on cardiovascular death improved consistently in subgroups with prespecified baseline variables. Myocardial infarctions were reported in 69 carvedilol and 94 metoprolol patients (hazard ratio [HR] 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52 to 0.97, p = 0.03). Cardiovascular death or nonfatal MI combined were reduced by 19% in carvedilol (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.92, p = 0.0009 vs. metoprolol). Unstable angina was reported as an adverse event in 56 carvedilol and in 77 metoprolol patients (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.501 to 0.998, p = 0.049). A stroke occurred in 65 carvedilol and 80 metoprolol patients (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.10). Stroke or MI combined occurred in 130 carvedilol and 168 metoprolol patients (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.95, p = 0.015), and fatal MI or fatal stroke occurred in 34 carvedilol and in 72 metoprolol patients (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.69, p = 0.0002). Death after a nonfatal MI or stroke occurred in 61 of 124 carvedilol and in 106 of 160 metoprolol patients (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.90, p = 0.0086).

Conclusions: Carvedilol improves vascular outcomes better than metoprolol. These results suggest a ubiquitous protective effect of carvedilol against major vascular events.

Abbreviations and Acronyms
  ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme
  CI = confidence interval
  HF = heart failure
  HR = hazard ratio
  LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction
  MI = myocardial infarction
  NYHA = New York Heart Association

The benefits of beta-blockade in the treatment of heart failure (HF) are well established. In addition to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blocking drugs improve survival and reduce cardiovascular hospitalizations, including those for worsening HF (1–4). Reverse ventricular remodeling and improved cardiac function have been demonstrated with different types of beta-blocking drugs, and are likely to contribute to their clinical benefit (5,6). In the COMET (Carvedilol Or Metoprolol European Trial) study, carvedilol improved survival and cardiovascular hospitalizations more than the beta-1 selective beta-blocker metoprolol tartrate (7). Carvedilol blocks both the beta-1 and -2 receptor, and has tighter, more prolonged binding properties to the beta-1 receptor than metoprolol, which results in a greater sympatho-inhibitory activity than with metoprolol at the dosages used in the COMET study (8). Binding of carvedilol to the beta-2 receptor may have antiarrhythmic effects and may inhibit myocardial hypertrophy and apoptosis (9,10). Carvedilol also blocks alpha 1-adrenergic receptors with enhanced peripheral vasodilatation and renal sodium excretion (11), and has antioxidant and antiendothelin effects. These additional effects may lead to improved vascular function and vascular protection relative to the effect of beta-1 selective blockade alone. The COMET study provided a unique possibility to analyze the long-term effects on vascular-related outcomes by these agents. In this analysis, we compare the effect of carvedilol and metoprolol on vascular events in the COMET study.


   Methods
Top
 Abstract
 Methods
Results
 Discussion
 Conclusions
 Appendix
 References
 
The COMET study was a randomized, double-blind, parallel comparison of carvedilol, 25 mg twice a day, and metoprolol tartrate, 50 mg twice a day, in patients with stable chronic HF, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II to IV and left ventricular dysfunction, in addition to standard therapy including ACE inhibition and diuretics. During an average 58-month follow-up, 1,511 patients received carvedilol and 1,518 patients metoprolol. Study design, rationale, inclusion criteria, and main results have been published (7,12). Baseline characteristics including concomitant medication were comparable between both study groups.

Eligibility criteria included stable HF, NYHA functional class II to IV, and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%. Patients had to be on ACE inhibitor therapy for at least 4 weeks and receiving diuretics (≤40 mg furosemide or equivalent) for at least 2 weeks, and had to have been hospitalized for cardiovascular reasons at least once in the year preceding inclusion.

Patients were excluded if they had hemodynamically significant valvular disease, uncontrolled hypertension, a recent (<2 months) myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina, coronary revascularization or stroke, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or symptomatic or sustained ventricular arrhythmias despite antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Contraindication to the use of a beta-blocker, requirement of intravenous inotropic therapy, a recent change in therapy (defined as an introduction of a new therapy for HF or use of a beta- or alpha-blocking drug in the preceding 2 weeks), use of a class I antiarrhythmic agent, amiodarone >200 mg, verapamil or diltiazem, or treatment with an investigational drug 30 days before inclusion were further exclusion criteria.

Patients were assigned blindly to carvedilol, 3.125 mg twice a day (n = 1,511), or metoprolol tartrate, 5 mg twice a day (n = 1,518), at randomization. Study treatment doses were doubled every 2 weeks until the target dose of carvedilol, 25 mg twice a day, or metoprolol, 50 mg twice a day, was reached. Dosages could be adapted by the investigator at any time during the study in case of side effects. The 2 co-primary end points were: 1) all-cause mortality; and 2) all-cause mortality or all-cause hospitalization. Secondary end points included outcome variables used in this report (e.g., cardiovascular death and hospitalizations for nonfatal MI and unstable angina). An independent events committee blindly adjudicated each death first into noncardiovascular and cardiovascular deaths, and subsequently categorized the cardiovascular deaths as sudden death, death due to worsening HF, death due to stroke or other cardiovascular deaths. The latter comprised deaths due to pulmonary or mesenterial embolism or aortic dissection. The respective definitions are provided in the Appendix. Consequently, all measured outcome variables, except stroke not leading to death, were prespecified in this analysis.

Death after MI was not considered a separate mode of death, but rather an event leading to death. Myocardial infarction had to be documented in the case record form by at least 2 of 4 criteria: chest pain typical of MI for >30 min, cardiac enzymes to >2x the upper limit of normal, evolving electrocardiogram pattern suggestive of MI, or autopsy evidence of a recent MI.

For the current analysis, all MIs leading to death were grouped as fatal MI. Hospitalizations or adverse events recording an MI not leading to death were grouped as nonfatal MI.

Unstable angina pectoris was identified by the investigator as an adverse event in the case record form. Additionally, unstable angina could be identified as a cause for hospital admission or occurring during hospitalization and had to be confirmed by the absence of the aforementioned markers of MI.

All cerebrovascular accidents were defined and documented by the investigator in the case record form. The diagnosis of nonfatal stroke was provided by the investigator on the adverse event page of the case record form, whereas strokes leading to death were adjudicated as stroke death by the independent events committee.

Statistical analysis.   The number of patients with any vascular event was calculated. Differences at baseline between those who did or did not experience any vascular event were assessed using t tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical data.

Each of the vascular outcomes presented in this paper was calculated from the time of randomization to the time of the first event of that type. Patients who did not have an event were censored at the last study visit or at the date of death if the subject died during the study. Kaplan-Meier event rates were calculated, and differences between the treatments were assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. We used proportional hazards models with treatment as the only independent variable in the model. This is equivalent to the log-rank test and allowed us to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Kaplan-Meier estimates of the survivor functions were displayed to characterize the treatment effects. The end point of death after nonfatal MI or stroke is presented only for those experiencing either event. For this end point, the time to event was calculated from the time of the original event.


   Results
Top
 Abstract
 Methods
 Results
Discussion
 Conclusions
 Appendix
 References
 
Cardiovascular events.   Cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, fatal or nonfatal MI, fatal or nonfatal stroke, and unstable angina, occurred in 584 patients receiving carvedilol and 667 patients receiving metoprolol (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.95, p = 0.0038). Baseline characteristics of patients with or without a vascular event are compared in Table 1. Subjects experiencing an event were found to be older; had more advanced HF as shown by NYHA functional classification, duration of HF, and brain natriuretic peptide levels; a greater percentage of ischemic etiology of HF as compared with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy; and were more likely to have a history of MI, coronary interventions, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. Additionally, they were treated more often with nitrates and aspirin than patients without an event.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Table 1 Baseline Characteristics of Patients With or Without a Cardiovascular End Point (Fatal or Nonfatal MI/Fatal or Nonfatal Stroke/Unstable Angina/Cardiovascular Death)
 
Baseline criteria were similar in both treatment groups among those subjects with an event, apart from a slight difference in the initial NYHA functional classification (NYHA II/III/IV, carvedilol 36%/59%/5%, metoprolol 39%/53%/8%, p = 0.0358).

Cardiovascular mortality.   Cardiovascular deaths occurred in 438 (29%) patients receiving carvedilol and in 534 (35%) patients in the metoprolol group (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.90, p = 0.0004). Baseline characteristics were examined, but no differences were found between the treatment groups (data not shown).

The superior effect of carvedilol on cardiovascular death was consistent in subgroups with pre-specified baseline variables, such as gender, age (≤ or >65 years), NYHA functional classification, LVEF ≤ or >25%, heart rate ≤ or >80 beats/min, history of ischemic heart disease, previous MI, diabetes, angina, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and receiving antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy (Fig. 1).


Figure 1
View larger version (33K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
  		Figure 1 Risk of Cardiovascular Death by Subgroups With Predefined Baseline Variables

Carvedilol consistently improves cardiovascular death compared with metoprolol. af = atrial fibrillation; Asp/anticoag = aspirin/anticoagulant; CI = confidence interval; ECG = electrocardiogram; HR = hazard ratio; IHD = ischemic heart disease; LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction; MI = myocardial infarction; NYHA = New York Heart Association functional classification.

 
MI.   A fatal MI occurred in 21 carvedilol and in 36 metoprolol patients (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.98, p = 0.041) (Fig. 2). This different effect of carvedilol on fatal MI started relatively early, during the first year of treatment (Fig. 3).


Figure 2
View larger version (24K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
  		Figure 2 Effect of Carvedilol Compared With Metoprolol on Single and Combined Vascular Events

With few exceptions, carvedilol (Carv) consistently reduces vascular event risk. AE = adverse event; CV = cardiovascular; hosp = hospitalization; Meto = metoprolol; other abbreviations as in Figure 1.

 

Figure 3
View larger version (30K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
  		Figure 3 Kaplan-Meier Plots of Time to Fatal MI, Any Stroke, Fatal MI or Stroke, and Any MI or Stroke in the 2 Treatment Groups

There were significantly fewer events in the carvedilol group than in the metoprolol group for all these end points barring any stroke. The effect of carvedilol started early and was constant over time. MI = myocardial infarction.

 
When fatal and nonfatal MIs were combined, carvedilol significantly reduced the occurrence of all MIs by 29% (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.97, p = 0.033) (Fig. 2).

Unstable angina.   Unstable angina was reported as an adverse event in 56 carvedilol patients and in 77 patients receiving metoprolol (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.501 to 0.998, p = 0.049) (Fig. 2). Hospitalizations for unstable angina were reduced by 17% by carvedilol (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.09, p = 0.185).

Stroke.   A stroke was reported in 65 patients in the carvedilol group and in 80 patients treated with metoprolol (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.10, p = 0.163) (Fig. 2). Baseline criteria were comparable in both groups with the exception of patients in the metoprolol group being older than carvedilol patients (68 ± 9.0 years vs. 65 ± 8.3 years, respectively, mean ± SD, p = 0.0075). Fatal strokes occurred in 13 carvedilol versus 38 metoprolol patients (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.62, p = 0.0006) (Fig. 2).

Effect of carvedilol on combined vascular events.   The effect of carvedilol on the combined end point of MI or stroke was significant (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.95, p = 0.015), and the effect on fatal MI or fatal stroke was highly significant (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.69, p = 0.0002). Effect differences started early during the first year of treatment and remained constant over time (Fig. 3).

Carvedilol reduced the risk of any MI, any unstable angina, or any stroke by 19% (p = 0.017) (Figs. 2 and 4).Go


Figure 4
View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
  		Figure 4 Kaplan-Meier Curves of the Combined End Point of any MI, Unstable Angina, and Stroke

Significant greater reduction of the combined end point of any myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina, and stroke with carvedilol than with metoprolol.

 
The occurrence of cardiovascular death and nonfatal MI was significantly reduced by carvedilol (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.92, p = 0.0009) as was the combination of all-cause mortality and nonfatal MI (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.94, p = 0.0026) (both Fig. 2). Also, cardiovascular death, nonfatal MI, or stroke was reduced (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.94, p = 0.0022). Again, changes occurred early, and the difference in effect remained constant during the study (Fig. 5).


Figure 5
View larger version (23K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
  		Figure 5 Time to CV Death or Nonfatal MI, Death or Nonfatal MI, CV Death, Nonfatal MI, or Any Stroke

Kaplan-Meier curves for the combined end point of cardiovascular (CV) death or nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) (A), all-cause death or nonfatal MI (B), and CV death, nonfatal MI, or any stroke (C).

 
The occurrences of cardiovascular death and unstable angina or stroke, respectively, were significantly reduced in favor of carvedilol, as were the combinations of all-cause death and unstable angina and all-cause death and stroke (Fig. 2).

Mortality after stroke/MI.   Death after nonfatal MI or nonfatal stroke occurred in 61 of 124 patients on carvedilol and 106 or the 160 patients on metoprolol. This was a significant treatment difference (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.90, p = 0.0086) (Fig. 6).


Figure 6
View larger version (13K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
  		Figure 6 Kaplan-Meier Curves for Death After a Nonfatal Myocardial Infarction or Nonfatal Stroke

Carvedilol significantly reduces death after a nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke compared with metoprolol.

 
Treatment effect on vascular end points in patients with or without a history of ischemic heart disease.   The effect of carvedilol was comparable in both patients with a history of ischemic heart disease and in those without such a history, albeit that the effect of carvedilol was more robust on some end points (e.g., fatal MI in patients with a history of ischemic heart disease). However, interaction tests did not show a significant difference in study treatment effect between the 2 groups for any of the end points. These data are presented in Table 2.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Table 2 Events in IHD and Non-IHD Subgroups and Interaction Between Study Medication and Subgroups
 

   Discussion
Top
 Abstract
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
Conclusions
 Appendix
 References
 
This analysis indicates a consistently greater effect on major cardiovascular events, including MI, unstable angina, stroke, and cardiovascular death, by carvedilol as compared with metoprolol tartrate. With the exception of hospitalization for unstable angina and any strokes, all parameters measured were significantly reduced by carvedilol. These results strongly suggest a protective effect of carvedilol against major vascular events.

As previous analyses have also indicated that carvedilol reduces the occurrence of sudden death and death due to worsening HF (7), a decrease in ischemic events may well contribute to this survival benefit, in addition to other mechanisms including hemodynamic improvement and antiarrhythmic properties of carvedilol (9,13–17).

The vascular protective effect of carvedilol is probably dependent on different mechanisms, and the result of its complex pharmacologic profile.

The vascular endothelium contains both beta-1 and -2 as well as alpha-1 receptors. Blockade of all 3 adrenergic receptors by carvedilol provides for better endothelium-dependent vasodilatation than more selective beta-blockade (18). Both in animal and human studies, carvedilol, but not metoprolol, results in vasodilatation and better improves endothelial function (19,20). Also, antioxidative and antiapoptotic properties of carvedilol may play a role in improving free radical-induced endothelial dysfunction, reduce myocardial injury and infarct size after ischemia-reperfusion, and may affect atherosclerosis formation (21–30). Moreover, carvedilol, but not beta-1 adrenergic blockade, suppresses norepinephrine release from the ischemic heart, which is likely to contribute to better anti-ischemic effects, vaso-dynamics, and, possibly, vasculo-protection by the drug (31).

Taken together, the vascular protective and anti-ischemic effects observed with carvedilol are likely to contribute to the clinical benefit of the drug in the COMET study, in relation to the effect of metoprolol. Death in patients with HF is often linked to an acute ischemic event. Although this is obviously the case for MI and stroke deaths, sudden death is also frequently the result of an acute coronary ischemic event. Indeed, in the COMET study, carvedilol significantly reduced sudden death to a larger extent than metoprolol (7).

It has been hypothesized before that that the beneficial effects of carvedilol, compared with metoprolol tartrate, may be partially explained by a greater degree of blockade of the beta-1 adrenergic receptors. The greater effect of carvedilol on heart rate, compared with metoprolol, has been used to support this hypothesis. However, this difference was minimal (–1.6 beats/min with carvedilol compared with metoprolol) and significant only at 4, 8, and 16 months (7).

Moreover, in a post-hoc analysis of our data, the effects of carvedilol, compared with metoprolol, on outcome were independent of any change in heart rate, and no interaction with heart rate, systolic blood pressure, or the beta-blocker dose was found (32).

We, therefore, consider the vascular effects of carvedilol the result of its specific pharmacologic profile, and not the result of more intense beta-1 blockade than metoprolol in our study.

Carvedilol’s vasculo-protective and anti-ischemic properties are likely to contribute to a greater improvement in cardiac function in HF than beta-1–selective blocking agents. Several smaller studies and a recent meta-analysis indicate that long-term treatment with carvedilol results in a greater increase in LVEF than metoprolol (13–16).

In the CHRISTMAS (Carvedilol Hibernating Reversible ISchaemia Trial: MArker of Success) study, improvement of left ventricular function with carvedilol in patients with HF of ischemic origin was greater if more myocardium was affected by hibernation or ischemia was present (33). This supports the suggestion that the beneficial effect of carvedilol in the COMET study may partly be due to its anti-ischemic properties. The results of the COMET study may have a wider application than just to patients with HF. Carvedilol may well be considered the drug of choice in other conditions likely to result in or be aggravated by myocardial ischemic events, whenever the use of beta-blockade is considered.

Study limitations.   Whereas all fatal events were adjudicated by the events committee in the COMET study, nonfatal events were not. These were classified in a blinded fashion either from the hospitalization reports or from the adverse events pages of the case record form if the event had not led to hospitalization in the investigator’s own clinic. Events were only collected for further analysis if a clear description was available. However, any hospitalization at the investigator’s site for an acute MI had to be confirmed by predefined ECG and enzymatic criteria, and for unstable angina by the absence of these criteria. By doing so, we tried to limit misclassification of nonfatal events as much as possible, and this likely contributed to the consistency and comparable magnitude of treatment effect of carvedilol on the different fatal and nonfatal vascular events.


   Conclusions
Top
 Abstract
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Conclusions
Appendix
 References
 
This present analysis of the COMET study indicates that carvedilol reduces vascular events, whether fatal or not, to a greater extent than metoprolol tartrate. The anti-ischemic properties of carvedilol can be explained by several mechanisms contributing to vasculo-protection by the drug. These effects are clinically relevant, and likely to contribute to the superior therapeutic profile of this beta-blocker in the treatment of HF.


   Appendix
Top
 Abstract
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Conclusions
 Appendix
References
 
For definitions of the modes of death, please see the online version of this article.


   Footnotes
 
The COMET study was funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche and GlaxoSmithKline. Drs. Remme, Torp-Pedersen, Cleland, Poole-Wilson, Metra, Swedberg, Komajda, and Di Lenarda have received honoraria (<$5,000 per year), travel, and accommodation expenses for their role in the Steering Committee from F. Hoffmann-La Roche. All of the Steering Committee members have received speaker’s honoraria from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and GlaxoSmithKline at some time in the past 10 years.

1 Drs. Scherhag and Moullet are employees of F. Hoffmann-La Roche, and Dr. Lukas of GlaxoSmithKline. Back


   References
Top
 Abstract
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Conclusions
 Appendix
 References
 

  1. Packer M, Bristow MR, Cohn JN, et al. The effect of carvedilol on morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure N Engl J Med 1996;334:1349-1355.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. CIBIS II Investigators and Committees The Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study II (CIBIS II): a randomised trial Lancet 1999;353:9-13.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  3. MERIT-HF Study Group Effect of metoprolol CR/XL in chronic heart failure: Metoprolol CR/XL Randomised Intervention Trial in congestive heart failure (MERIT-HF) Lancet 1999;353:2001-2007.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  4. Packer M, Coats AJS, Fowler MB, et al. Effect of carvedilol on survival in severe chronic heart failure N Engl J Med 2001;344:1651-1658.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  5. Doughty RN, Whalley GA, Gamble G, et al. Left ventricular remodeling with carvedilol in patients with congestive heart failure due to ischemic heart diseaseAustralia-New Zealand Heart Failure Research Collaborative Group. J Am Coll Cardiol 1997;29:1060-1066.[Abstract]
  6. Remme WJ, Riegger G, Hildebrandt P, et al. CARMEN Investigators The benefits of early combination treatment of carvedilol and an ACE-inhibitor in mild heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction The Carvedilol and Ace-inhibitor Remodelling Mild heart failure EvaluatioN trial (CARMEN)Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 2004;18:57-66.
  7. Poole-Wilson PA, Swedberg K, Cleland JGF, et al. Comparison of carvedilol and metoprolol on clinical outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure in the Carvedilol Or Metoprolol European Trial (COMET): randomised controlled trial Lancet 2003;362:7-13.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  8. Kindermann M, Maack C, Schaller S, et al. Carvedilol but not metoprolol reduces ß-adrenergic responsiveness after complete elimination from plasma in vivo Circulation 2004;109:3182-3190.
  9. Billman GE, Castillo LC, Hensley J, Hohl CM, Altschud RA. Beta 2-adrenergic receptor antagonists protect against ventricular fibrillationIn vivo and in vitro evidence for enhanced sensitivity to beta 2-adrenergic stimulation in animals susceptible to sudden death. Circulation 1997;96:1914-1922.
  10. Du XJ, Autelitano D, Dilley RJ, Wang B, Dart AM, Woodcock EA. ß2-adrenergic receptor overexpression exacerbates development of heart failure after aortic stenosis Circulation 2000;101:71-77.
  11. Sattar MA, Johns EJ. Alpha-1 adrenoceptor subtypes involved in mediating adrenergically induced antinatriuresis and antidiuresis in two kidney, one clip Goldblatt and deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertensive rats J Pharmcol Exp Ther 1996;277:245-252.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  12. Poole-Wilson PA, Cleland JG, Di Lenarda A, et al. Rationale and design of the carvedilol or metoprolol European trial in patients with chronic heart failure: COMET Eur J Heart Fail 2002;4:321-329.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  13. Di Lenarda A, Sabbadini G, Salvatore L, et al. Long-term effects of carvedilol in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy with persistent left ventricular dysfunction despite chronic metoprololThe Heart-Muscle-Disease Study Group. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999;33:1926-1934.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Sanderson JE, Chan SKW, Yip G, et al. Beta-blockade in heart failureA comparison of carvedilol with metoprolol. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999;34:1522-1528.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  15. Metra M, Gibbini R, Nodari S, Boldi E, Modena MG, Dei Cas L. Differential effects of beta-blockers in patients with heart failureA prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison of the long-term effects of metoprolol versus carvedilol. Circulation 2002;102:546-551.
  16. Packer M, Antonopoulos GV, Berlin JA, Chittams J, Konstam MA, Udelson JE. Comparative effects or carvedilol and metoprolol on left ventricular ejection fraction in heart failure: a meta-analysis Am Heart J 2001;141:899-907.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  17. McMurray J, Kober I, Robertson M, et al. Antiarrhythmic effect of carvedilol after acute myocardial infarctionResults of the carvedilol post-infarct survival control in left ventricular dysfunction (CAPRICORN) trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;45:525-530.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  18. Von zur Muhlen B, Millgard J, Lind L. Divergent effects of different beta-blocking agents on endothelin-dependent vasodilatation in the human forearm Blood Press 2000;9:287-292.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  19. Hryniewicz K, Androne AS, Hudaihed A, Katz SD. Comparative effects of carvedilol and metoprolol on regional vascular responses to adrenergic stimuli in normal subjects and patients with chronic heart failure Circulation 2003;108:971-976.
  20. Intengan HD, Schiffrin EL. Disparate effects of carvedilol versus metoprolol treatment of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats on endothelial function of resistance arteries J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2000;35:763-768.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  21. Matsuda Y, Akita H, Terashima M, Shiga N, Kanazawa K, Yokoyama M. Carvedilol improves endothelium-dependent dilatation in patients with coronary artery disease Am Heart J 2000;140:753-759.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  22. Lopez BL, Christopher TA, Yue TL, Ruffolo R, Feuerstein GZ, Ma XL. Carvedilol, a new beta-adrenoceptor blocker antihypertensive drug, protects against free-radical-induced endothelial dysfunction Pharmacology 1995;51:165-173.[ISI][Medline]
  23. Gao F, Chen J, Lopez BL, et al. Comparison of bisoprolol and carvedilol cardioprotection in a rabbit ischemia and reperfusion model Eur J Pharmacol 2000;406:109-116.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  24. Ma XL, Yue TL, Lopez BL, et al. Carvedilol, a new beta-adrenoceptor blocker and free radical scavenger attenuates myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in hypercholesterolemic rabbits J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1996;277:128-136.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  25. Khandoudi N, Percevault-Albadine J, Bril A. Comparative effects of carvedilol and metoprolol on cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 1998;32:443-451.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  26. Oliveira PJ, Rolo AP, Monteiro P, Goncalves L, Palmeira CM, Moreno AJ. Impact of carvedilol on the mitochondrial damage induced by hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase—what role in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion? Rev Port Cardiol 2002;21:1447-1455.[Medline]
  27. Asanuma H, Minamino T, Sanada S, et al. Beta-adrenoceptor blocker carvedilol provides cardioprotection via an adenosine-dependent mechanism in ischemic canine hearts Circulation 2004;109:2773-2779.
  28. Romeo F, Li D, Shi M, Mehta JL. Carvedilol prevents epinephrine-induced apoptosis in human coronary artery endothelial cells: modulation of Fas/Fas ligand and caspase-3 pathway Cardiovasc Res 2000;45:788-794.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  29. Rossig L, Haendeler J, Mallat Z, et al. Congestive heart failure induces endothelial cell apoptosis: protective role of carvedilol J Am Coll Cardiol 2000;36:2081-2089.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  30. Chen JW, Lin FY, Chen YH, Wu T, Chen YL, Lin SJ. Carvedilol inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced endothelial transcription factor activation, adhesion molecule expression and adhesiveness to human mononuclear cells Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2004;24:2075-2081.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  31. Kurz T, Richardt D, Gorge B, et al. Differential effects of carvedilol on norepinephrine release in normoxic and ischemic heart J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2000;36:96-100.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  32. Metra M, Torp-Pedersen C, Swedberg KS, et al. Influence of heart rate, blood pressure, and beta-blocker dose on outcome and the differences in outcome between carvedilol and metoprolol tartrate in patients with chronic heart failure: results from the COMET trial Eur Heart J 2005;26:2259-2268.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  33. Cleland JGF, Pennell DJ, Ray SG, et al. Myocardial viability as a determinant of the ejection fraction response to carvedilol in patients with heart failure (CHRISTMAS trial): randomised, controlled trial Lancet 2003;362:14-21.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Evid. Based Med.Home page
C. B Granger
Carvedilol was more effective than metoprolol for preventing cardiovascular events in heart failure
Evid. Based Med., October 1, 2007; 12(5): 141 - 141.
[Full Text] [PDF]

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow View definitions of modes of death
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
j.jacc.2006.10.059v1
49/9/963    most recent
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Remme, W. J.
Right arrow Articles by Lukas, M. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Remme, W. J.
Right arrow Articles by Lukas, M. A.

HOME SUBSCRIPTIONS CURRENT ISSUE PAST ISSUES CARDIOSOURCE SEARCH HELP FEEDBACK