Changes in body composition in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction initiated on beta-blocker therapy.

Background: Increasing body mass index, cholesterol and body fat are associated with a better prognosis in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). Beta-blocker usage is associated with changes in body composition and increased body fat. The present study investigated 12-month changes in body composition in patients with LVSD initiated on beta-blocker therapy.

Prognostic value of the 6 min walk test and self-perceived symptom severity in older patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: The 6 min walk test (6-MWT) is a simple and popular test for evaluating functional status in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the prognostic value of the 6-MWT in a large, representative sample of CHF patients, and in patients with different degrees of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) remains unclear.

Methods And Results: Of an initial population of 1592 patients, 212 died representing a crude death rate of 13.