Beta-Blockers for Heart Failure Leads to Body Composition Changes

Treatment with beta-blockers can alter body composition and increase body fat in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

"Cachexia is an independent risk factor for mortality in CHF," states Dr. Mitja Lainscak, of General Hospital Murska Sobota, Slovenia, and colleagues.

They note that recent evidence indicates that CHF patients with higher BMIs and body fat mass do better. "Beta blockers can reduce body energy expenditure and improve efficiency of substrate utilization," the researchers point out.

The team examined body composition changes in 41 non-cachectic patients with CHF who were treated with beta-blockers and were followed for at least 6 months. Bioimpedance was used to measure body composition. Of the 41 patients, 16 were being treated with beta-blockers at baseline and by the end of follow-up all were receiving beta-blockers. The patients were followed for a mean of 263 days.

No changes were observed in body weight, body mass index, or total body water. However, total body fat mass increased in 28 of 41 patients, with the mean for the group increasing from 27.4 to 28.3 kg (p < 0.01). Percent total body fat increased in 33 patients, with an overall increase from 32.3% to 33.4% (p < 0.001).

"Our results suggest that this gain in body weight to a large degree would be body fat," Dr. Lainscak and colleagues conclude. "Beta blocker therapy appears to promote conservation of energy reserves," they note.

In their discussion, the researchers note that, "interestingly," results of unpublished studies indicate that "fat mass is more closely related to survival in CHF than lean tissue mass." They suggest that it would be worthwhile testing beta-blockers in other wasting disorders.

Int J Cardiol 2006;106:319-322.

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