Abstract 4146542: Effect of Beta-Blockers on Mortality in Patients with Tachycardia in the Setting of Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Beta blockers have the potential to mitigate the damage caused by adrenergic overdrive in septic shock. However, there is limited data supporting their effectiveness in controlling heart rate in these patients. Recent meta-analyses have demonstrated that beta-blockers can lower mortality rates in patients with sepsis. To evaluate the efficacy of beta-blockers in sepsis and septic shock, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis by thoroughly searching MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to evaluate the efficacy of beta-blockers in sepsis and septic shock. Random-effects models were utilized to pool effect sizes. The DerSimonian-Laird estimator calculated between-study variance, and the Jackson method was employed to determine a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Our analysis included 8 eligible studies with a total of 893 patients (446 in the beta-blocker group, with 64% being female, and 447 in the placebo group, with 59% being female) at 28 days of follow-up. In the beta-blocker cohort, there were 171 deaths (38.3%), whereas the control group had 212 deaths (47.4%) at 28 days of follow-up. The use of beta-blockers did not significantly improve overall 28-day mortality (pooled odds ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.34-1.03; p = 0.07) (Figure). Conclusion: The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that beta-blockers do not significantly enhance survival rates among patients with sepsis and septic shock.