Table 1

Summary of effects for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalisation

OutcomeAll trialsDrug classesFollow-up durationEntry LV ejection fraction thresholdMean LV ejection fraction
Beta-blockersRAAS antagonistsOther3–12 months>12 months40%–49%≥50%<60%≥60%
All-cause mortality0.96
(0.90 to 1.03)		0.78
(0.65 to 0.94)
p=0.008		1.00
(0.93 to 1.08)		0.95
(0.78 to 1.15)		0.79
(0.66 to 0.95)
p=0.01		0.99
(0.92 to 1.06)		0.96
(0.88 to 1.03)		0.99
(0.74 to 1.32)		0.93
(0.82 to 1.05)		1.01
(0.90 to 1.12)
Cardiovascular mortality0.95
(0.87 to 1.03)		0.75
(0.60 to 0.94)
p=0.01		0.99
(0.89 to 1.09)		1.01
(0.76 to 1.34)		0.71
(0.55 to 0.90)
p=0.005		0.99
(0.90 to 1.08)		0.95
(0.87 to 1.03)		-0.90
(0.78 to 1.05)		1.02
(0.89 to 1.17)
Heart failure hospitalisation0.88
(0.81 to 0.95)
p=0.002		0.67
(0.42 to 1.07)		0.90
(0.82 to 0.98)
p=0.01		0.81
(0.64 to 1.04)		0.67
(0.48 to 0.94)
p=0.02		0.90
(0.82 to 0.98)
p=0.02		0.88
(0.82 to 0.96)
p=0.002		0.51
(0.18 to 1.48)		0.85
(0.76 to 0.94)
p=0.002		0.92
(0.82 to 1.04)

  • Data presented as risk ratios (for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and hospitalisation outcomes) or mean difference (exercise capacity, 6MWD, VO2 max and MLHFQ), with 95% CI and I2 statistic. p values included for analyses that reached statistical significance at p=0.05. RAAS blockers include all trials using ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and mineralocorticoid (each class individually had no effect on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality or heart failure hospitalisation). Only one trial that reported cardiovascular mortality had an entry LV ejection fraction ≥50%. Only one trial with LV ejection fraction threshold ≥50% reported cardiovascular mortality.

  • 6MWD, 6 min walk distance; LV, left ventricular; MLHFQ, Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire; RAAS, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.