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β-blockers can lower overall mortality in patients with heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). But should they be withdrawn or continued during hospitalization when patients present with decompensated heart failure? With funding from the maker of carvedilol (Coreg), investigators evaluated 2373 patients with LVD who were admitted with heart failure, were eligible for β-blockers at discharge, and completed follow-up visits 60 to 90 days later. Fifty-seven percent were receiving β-blockers before admission and continued therapy during hospitalization, 27% started β-blockers during hospitalization, 3% had previously prescribed β-blockers withdrawn at hospitalization, and 13% were eligible for treatment but did not receive β-bloc…