Background Beta-blockers with additional nitric oxide-mediated vasodilating properties are beneficial in patients with heart failure but its unknown if they are better than non-vasodilating Beta blockers.

Aim To compare quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure stabilised on vasodilating and non-vasodilating beta-blockers.

Methods and Results 163 patients having chronic stable heart failure for at least 6 months were evaluated according to their treatment with vasodilating or non-vasodilating betablockers. Modified Kansa city cardiomyopathy score was used to assess quality of life. Table 1 summarises patient characteristics, comorbidities and parameters of quality of life in both groups.

Conclusion There was no difference in the quality of life of patients on vasodilating and non-vasodilating beta-blockers. While vasodilation should improve quality of life, the lack of difference in our study may reflect that patients may already have maximal vasodilation due to their other therapeutic agents such as ACE or ARBs. This indicates that beta blocker choice is not essential in otherwise optimally treated patients.