Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07298993

Deprescribing Beta-Blockers in Elders With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (DEPRESCRIBE-HFpEF)

The goal of this study is to learn whether stopping beta-blockers can help older adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) feel better and function better. This study will test whether "deprescribing" or stopping these medications in a careful, guided way can improve symptoms and quality of life.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

Deprescribing group: Beta-blockers are gradually reduced using capsules that contain decreasing doses.

Usual care group: Beta-blockers are continued at the usual dose in look-alike capsules.

All participants will:

* Take study medicine for about 4 months * Have their blood pressure and heart rate monitored * Complete regular phone calls and questionnaires about how they are feeling

This study does not involve any experimental medication. Participants active involvement in the study will last approximately 4 months. During these 4 months they will have 8 scheduled telephone visits.

Enrolling by Invitation

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Heart Failure Cardiovascular Diseases HFpEF HFpEF - Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Diseases

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC)

Pleasanton, California, 94588, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Ambulatory adults age ≥60 years with HFpEF (EF ≥50% based on most recent transthoracic echocardiogram)
  • Hospitalized with HF in the past 24 months (defined by diagnostic codes in any position)
  • Taking any of the following ß-blockers: atenolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol, metoprolol succinate, or metoprolol tartrate (i.e., pharmacy prescription data)
  • Kaiser Permanence Northern California Membership

Exclusion criteria

  • Alternative etiologies of HFpEF syndrome
  • Compelling guideline indication for ß-blocker:
  • Prior EF <50% (i.e., based on the structured data field on transthoracic echocardiogram)
  • Current anginal symptoms (i.e., based on the Rose Angina single-question screener for angina)
  • MI (i.e., diagnostic codes) and/or coronary revascularization (i.e., procedure codes) within 3 years
  • Hospitalization for a primary discharge diagnosis of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter in the prior 12 months
  • Other documented reason in the opinion of the treating provider and/or enrolling clinician-investigator
  • Evidence of recent decompensated HF
  • Hospitalization for a primary discharge diagnosis of HF within the past 30 days
  • Change in loop diuretic pharmacy prescription in the past 30 days (i.e. pharmacy prescription data) (Note: This definition is based on documented prescription changes and does not include short-term dose adjustments that were verbally communicated to the patient by their provider.)
  • Estimated life expectancy <6 months (i.e., diagnostic codes)
  • Diagnosed dementia (i.e.., diagnostic codes)
  • Unable to provide informed consent
  • Loss of Kaiser Permanence Northern California Membership

Treatment and study plan

Placebo (matching)

Drug

Beta-blocker dosage will be reduced over the course of 4 weeks until the participant is completely off of beta-blocker and transitioned to matching placebo capsules.

Other names: Deprescribing

Beta-blockers

Drug

Participants will continue their pre-enrollment beta-blocker at the same dose. The beta-blocker agent may include atenolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol, metoprolol succinate, or metoprolol tartrate. Medication will be provided in matching capsules to maintain blinding.

Other names: Atenolol, Bisoprolol, Carvedilol, Metoprolol succinate, Metoprolol tartrate

Primary outcomes

  1. The Hierarchical Composite Endpoint

    Time frame: From baseline (day 0) to end of the follow-up phase (day 120)

    The primary outcome is net benefit, assessed using a hierarchical composite of four patient-centered outcomes: (1) time to death from any cause, (2) time to all-cause hospitalization, (3) ≥ 5-point difference of KCCQ-12 OSS change from baseline, and (4) ≥ 3-point difference in PROMIS Depression T-score change from baseline

Secondary outcomes

  1. The change from baseline in patient-reported physical health, as measured by the KCCQ-12

    Time frame: Baseline, Day 120

    The Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12) is a heart failure-specific health status survey. The 12-item questionnaire asks participants to rate their agreement with a series of statements using a six-point Likert scale, ranging from "completely disagree" (0) to "completely agree" (5). Item responses are summed to generate a total score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health status.

  2. The change in patient-reported mental health, as measured by the PROMIS Depression scale

    Time frame: Baseline, Day 120

    The PROMIS Depression scale is a validated 4-item patient-reported measure developed by the NIH, with high reliability and responsiveness in older adults. The 4-item questionnaire asks participants to rate their agreement with a series of statements using a six-point Likert scale, ranging from "never" (0) to "always" (5). Item responses are summed to generate a raw score ranging from 4 to 20, which is then converted to a standardized T-score using PROMIS scoring guidelines. Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptom severity.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Other

Collaborators

  • Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
  • National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Registry information

Official study title

Determining Evidence in a Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Experiment Studying Continuation vs. Removal of Inessential Beta-Blockers in Elders With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (DEPRESCRIBE-HFpEF)

Acronym: DEPRESCRIBE

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Dec 23, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 15, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.