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Aims

Heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently coexist. No study has prospectively examined the effects of beta-blockade in those with both conditions.

Methods and results

We randomized 27 patients with HF and coexistent moderate or severe COPD to receive bisoprolol or placebo, titrated to maximum tolerated dose over 4 months. The primary outcome was forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1). The study is registered with ClinicalTrials. gov, number: NCT00702156. Patients were elderly and predominantly male. Cardiovascular comorbidity, smoking history, and pulmonary function were similar in each group (mean FEV 1 1.37 vs. 1.26 L, P= 0.52). A reduction in FEV 1 occurred after 4 months following treatment with bisoprolol compared with placebo (− 70 vs.+ 120 mL, P= 0.01). Reversibility following inhaled β 2-agonist and static lung volumes were not impaired by …