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Beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs in primary and secondary prevention of myocardial infarction

C T Dollery1

  • 1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, U.K.

European Heart Journal
|December 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Beta-blockers significantly reduce mortality post-myocardial infarction and during acute coronary events. Their benefit in hypertension prevention is less clear, particularly in women, but may apply to non-smoking men.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs (beta-blockers) are established treatments post-myocardial infarction.
  • Evidence suggests potential benefits during acute coronary events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the established and potential benefits of beta-blockers in cardiovascular disease.
  • To assess the role of beta-blockers in primary prevention for hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trial data on beta-blocker efficacy.
  • Analysis of mortality reduction in post-myocardial infarction patients and acute coronary syndromes.
  • Examination of studies on beta-blockers for hypertension primary prevention.

Main Results:

  • Beta-blockers reduce mortality by ~20% in the 1-3 years post-myocardial infarction.
  • A ~14% mortality reduction is suggested with acute beta-blocker use in coronary crises.
  • Hypertension primary prevention benefits are less clear, with some studies showing benefit only in non-smoking men.

Conclusions:

  • Beta-blockers are highly effective in secondary prevention after myocardial infarction and beneficial in acute coronary events.
  • Further research is needed to clarify beta-blocker efficacy in primary hypertension prevention.
  • Beta-blockers are a reasonable choice for male hypertensives, especially when combined with smoking cessation advice.

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