Interv Akut Kardiol 2012; 11(5-6): 202-210

Significance of pharmacological intervention for heart rate in treating cardiovascular disease

Jan Bultas

Farmakologický ústav, 3. lékařská fakulta UK, Praha

Heart rate is an independent factor affecting ischaemic load in patients with angina pectoris and the rate of cardiovascular events in

patients with chronic heart failure. The dependence of all-cause as well as cardiovascular mortality on baseline heart rate has been

documented in long-term monitoring of healthy population. During pharmacological intervention as part of prophylaxis for myocardial

ischaemia in patients with angina pectoris, a reduction in ischaemic load has been documented for both treatment with beta blockers

and treatment with ivabradine. Whether the rates of cardiovascular events and mortality are also favourably affected in treatment with

ivabradine is being investigated in the SIGNIFY study. The treatment of chronic heart failure with drugs with negative chronotropic

effect – beta blockers and ivabradine – favourably affected cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Pharmacological intervention for

increased heart rate has thus become one of standard therapeutic strategies in treating a number of cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: heart rate, myocardial ischaemia, heart failure, beta blockers, ivabradine, verapamil

Published: December 1, 2012  Show citation