Vidal-Perez R, Vazquez-Rodriguez JM. Letter to the Editor: Beta-blockers vs calcium channel blockers in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: An old question in need of new answers. World J Cardiol 2026; 18(6): 117807 [DOI: 10.4330/wjc.117807]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Rafael Vidal-Perez, Servicio de Cardiología, Unidad de Imagen y Función Cardíaca, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, As Xubias de Arriba-84, A Coruña 15006, Galicia, Spain. rafavidal@hotmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Article-Type of This Article
letter
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Vidal-Perez R, Vazquez-Rodriguez JM. Letter to the Editor: Beta-blockers vs calcium channel blockers in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: An old question in need of new answers. World J Cardiol 2026; 18(6): 117807 [DOI: 10.4330/wjc.117807]
World J Cardiol. Jun 26, 2026; 18(6): 117807 Published online Jun 26, 2026. doi: 10.4330/wjc.117807
Letter to the Editor: Beta-blockers vs calcium channel blockers in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: An old question in need of new answers
Rafael Vidal-Perez, Jose Manuel Vazquez-Rodriguez
Rafael Vidal-Perez, Jose Manuel Vazquez-Rodriguez, Servicio de Cardiología, Unidad de Imagen y Función Cardíaca, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, A Coruña 15006, Galicia, Spain
Author contributions: Vidal-Perez R designed, performed the collection of the data, edited, and wrote the paper; Vazquez-Rodriguez JM contributed to the critical revision and editing of the paper.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Rafael Vidal-Perez, Servicio de Cardiología, Unidad de Imagen y Función Cardíaca, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, As Xubias de Arriba-84, A Coruña 15006, Galicia, Spain. rafavidal@hotmail.com
Received: December 16, 2025 Revised: January 12, 2026 Accepted: March 5, 2026 Published online: June 26, 2026 Processing time: 184 Days and 10.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains a heterogeneous syndrome lacking robust disease-modifying therapies. This article critically examines the long-standing debate between beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers in HFpEF, integrating evidence from meta-analyses, observational studies, and a recent retrospective comparison. While beta-blockers may confer modest benefits in selected phenotypes - particularly in patients with atrial fibrillation or coronary artery disease - their potential to worsen chronotropic incompetence limits universal applicability. Calcium channel blockers appear largely safe and may reduce hospitalizations in specific settings. Overall, the analysis underscores the need for phenotype-driven, individualized treatment strategies and prospective trials to guide therapy in HFpEF.
