Effects of metoprolol in patients with chronic heart failure complicated chronic atrial fibrillation

Objective: To investigate therapeutic effects of metoprolol combined with digoxin in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF) complicated chronic atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods: A total of 106 CHF + chronic AF patients were randomly divided into metoprolol + digoxin group(n=52) and digoxin group(n=54).Short-term effects in one month and rehospitalization rate and cardiac mortality rate within one year were observed in two groups.Results:After treatment one month,compared with digoxin group,there were significant decrease in rest ventricular rate [(91.6±8.5) times min vs.(72.8±9.7) times min]and ventricular rate difference immediately before and after exercise [(23.1±4.2) times min vs.(12.3±4.7) times min]and significant increase in 6min walking distance [6MWD,(256.4±90.4) m vs.(299.8±94.1) m]in metoprolol + digoxin group,P0.05 all;Compared with digoxin group after one-year follow-up,there were significant decrease in rehospitalization rate(42.6% vs.19.2%) and mortality rate caused by heart failure(20.4% vs.11.5%),left ventricular end-diastolic volume and left ventricular end-systolic volume;significant increase in 6MWD and left ventricular ejection fraction,and significant improvement in New York heart association class and scores of quality of life in metoprolol + digoxin group,P0.05 all.Conclusion: Based on routine therapy,digoxin combined with metoprolol possesses more effects than that of digoxin treatment in one month and one year