Rationale and design of the initiation management predischarge: Process for assessment of carvedilol therapy for heart failure (IMPACT-HF) study

β-Blockers for the treatment of heart failure are under- prescribed in the United States despite the availability of extensive data and the current guidelines that support their use. The ongoing Initiation Management Predischarge Process for Assessment of Carvedilol Therapy for Heart Failure (IMPACT-HF) study was designed to determine if initiation of beta blockade prior to hospital discharge is safe and improves the long-term use of β-blockers. IMPACT-HF is a multicenter, randomized, open-label trial of carvedilol initiated before hospital discharge or to usual care in 363 patients hospitalized for worsening heart failure. The primary end point of the study is the number of patients treated with any β-blocker at 60 days. Secondary endpoints include β-blocker dose achieved and a composite clinical endpoint. The data from the IMPACT-HF trial will provide evidence to evaluate whether in-hospital initiation of p-blocker therapy is effective in improving the long-term use of p-block- ers in this population. Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Duke Scholars

Author Christopher Michael O'Connor Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology