Sex-Related Differences in Heart Failure and Beta-Blockers

Under-representation of women in heart failure trials has limited our knowledge of heart failure in women to extrapolation of findings from men. Significant sex related differences in clinical and laboratory characteristics exist in systolic heart failure including better survival in women. The value of various therapeutic interventions should be based on proven effect in women and not on an assumption based on proven benefit in men. Among the medications currently recommended for patients with systolic heart failure, beta-blockers have the strongest data supporting their efficacy in women.