Stopping or reducing beta-blockers for people with HFpEF

DEPRESCRIBE-HFPEF

NIH-funded research Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11251615

This project will see if safely stopping or lowering beta-blocker medicines helps older adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction feel and work better day-to-day.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWeill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11251615 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would join if you are an adult with HFpEF who is taking a beta-blocker but do not have a clear reason to stay on it; participants are followed closely and monitored for safety. People will be assigned to a plan that slowly reduces or stops the beta-blocker under medical supervision or to usual care, with frequent check-ins. Researchers will measure symptoms, exercise ability, heart rate response, and quality of life using tests, wearable/heart monitoring, and questionnaires over follow-up. The team will watch carefully for side effects, worsening heart failure, or other problems and provide prompt medical care if needed.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction who are currently taking beta-blockers without a clear guideline-based indication and who are clinically stable would be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), a recent heart attack, certain arrhythmias, or another clear medical reason for beta-blockers are unlikely to benefit and should not stop their medicine for this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, stopping unnecessary beta-blockers could improve exercise tolerance, reduce symptoms, and boost quality of life while lowering medication burden for people with HFpEF.

How similar studies have performed: Beta-blockers clearly help people with HFrEF, but evidence in HFpEF is limited or mixed, so safely stopping them in HFpEF is a relatively new and not-yet-proven approach.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.