Treatment of the elderly patients wih chronic heart failure with carvedilol

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of carvedilol(made in China)in treatment of the elderly patients with chronic heart failure(CHF).Methods 94 cases were divided into two groups randomly.One group was treared with the routine medication, including digitalis, diuretics, ACEI and nitrates.Another group was treated with carvedilol in addition to above routine treatment. Carvedilol began from the dosage 5 mg b.i.d,and was gradually increased to 10 mg b.i.d. The heart function,heart rates, blood pressure, LVEF, LVDd and LVDs were evaluated by echocardiography and comparison of the data between the two groups and between before and after using carvedilol.Results Comparing with the routine treatment group after three months,the patients treated with carvedilol improved better in heart functions,such as increase in LVEF,decrease in heart rate and shortening of LVDd and LVDs.Conclusion Treatment of the elderly CHF patients with carvedilol, especially based on the routine therapy, can improve the therapeutic efficacy.