Effectiveness of Metoprolol in Improving Cardiac and Motor Functions in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Prospective Study

PURPOSE: To assess gender-, age-, and the dose-related influence of metoprolol on cardiac function, motor function, quality-of-life (QoL), and mental status in Chinese chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This single-center, prospective study enrolled CHF patients with resting heart rate (HR) >80 bpm and used metoprolol continuous release tablets. Patients were initiated with 12.5-mg metoprolol. All patients were assessed for change in cardiac function, motor function, QoL, and mental status according to gender (men vs women), age (<60 vs ≥60 years), and metoprolol dose administered (47.5 mg [n=37], 71.25 mg [n=7], 118.75 [n=74], and 142.5 mg [n=19]). RESULTS: Overall, 154 CHF patients (101 men and 53 women), with median age 66.39 years, were enrolled. In total, 116 and 38 patients were aged ≥60 and <60 years, respectively. We observed a slight decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in women compared with men. HR had increased with an increase in ejection fraction (EF) from baseline to 1 month (35.24±6.15 and 34.79±6.25) and increased to 50.00±4.45 and 50.72±4.09 among both the genders. Cardiac index (CI) and motor function had improved along with better QoL after metoprolol treatment in both the genders. In both age groups (<60 and ≥60 years), improvement in cardiac function, motor function, and QoL was observed; however, there was a difference in mental status. The dose effect of metoprolol on cardiac function, motor function, QoL, and mental status showed a gradual decrease in EF with dose increments, with no change in CI. Motor function, QoL, and mental status did not show much difference with uptitration of metoprolol dose. CONCLUSION: Psychological responses to metoprolol treatment differ with gender, with no age-related changes in terms of cardiac function, motor function, QoL, or mental status, except increases in depression, burnout, and anxiety.