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OBJECTIVES To determine the efficacy and tolerability of β blockers in a broad age range of women and men with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) by pooling individual patient data from placebo controlled randomised trials. DESIGN Prospectively designed meta-analysis of individual patient data from patients aged 40-85 in sinus rhythm > at baseline, with left ventricular ejection fraction <0.45. PARTICIPANTS 13833 patients from 11 trials; median age 64; 24% women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was all cause mortality; the major secondary outcome was admission to hospital for heart failure. Analysis was by intention to treat with an adjusted one stage Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS Compared with placebo, β blockers were effective in reducing mortality across all ages: hazard ratios were 0.66 (95% confidence interval 0.53 to 0.83) for the first quarter of age distribution (median age 50); 0.71 (0.58 to 0.87) for the second quarter (median age 60); 0.65 (0.53 to 0.78) for the third quarter (median age 68); and 0.77 (0.64 to 0.92) for the fourth quarter (median age 75). There was no significant interaction when age was modelled continuously (P=0.1), and the absolute reduction in mortality was 4.3% over a median follow-up of 1.3 years (number needed to treat 23). Admission to hospital for heart failure was significantly reduced by p blockers, although this effect was attenuated at older ages (interaction P=0.05). There was no evidence of an interaction between treatment effect and sex in any age group. Drug discontinuation was similar regardless of treatment allocation, age, or sex (14.4% in those give p blockers, 15.6% in those receiving placebo). CONCLUSION Irrespective of age or sex, patients with HFrEF in sinus rhythm should receive p blockers to reduce the risk of death and admission to hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]