The Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study II (CIBIS-II): a randomised trial

Background In patients with heart failure, β-blockade has improved morbidity and left-ventricular function, but the impact on survival is uncertain. We investigated the efficacy of bisoprolol, a β, selective adrenoceptor blocker in decreasing all-cause mortality in chronic heart failure. Methods In a multicentre double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial in Europe, we enrolled 2647 symptomatic patients in New York Heart Association class III or IV, with left-ventricular ejection fraction of 35% or less receiving standard therapy with diuretics and inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme. We randomly assigned patients bisoprolol 1·25 mg (n=1327) or placebo (n=1320) daily, the drug being progressively increased to a maximum of 10 mg per day. Patients were followed up for a mean of 1·3 years. Analysis was by intention to treat. Findings CIBIS-II was stopped early, after the second interim analysis, because bisoprolol showed a significant mortality benefit. All-cause mortality was significantly lower with bisoprolol than on placebo (156 [11·8%] vs 228 [17·3%] deaths with a hazard ratio of 0·66 (95% CI 0·54–0·81, p<0·0001). There were significantly fewer sudden deaths among patients on bisoprolol than in those on placebo (48 [3·6%] vs 83 [6·3%] deaths), with a hazard ratio of 0·56 (0·39–0·80, p=0·0011). Treatment effects were independent of the severity or cause of heart failure. Interpretation β-blocker therapy had benefits for survival in stable heart-failure patients. Results should not, however, be extrapolated to patients with severe class IV symptoms and recent instability because safety and efficacy has not been established in these patients.