Therapeutics
Review: ß blockers differ in their efficacy for preventing major cardiovascular events in younger and older patients
Khan N, McAlister FA. Re-examining the efficacy of ß-blockers for the treatment of hypertension: a meta-analysis. CMAJ 2006;174:1737–42.
Q When used as first line treatment of hypertension, does the efficacy of ß blockers for preventing major cardiovascular events differ between younger and older patients?
IM/Ambulatory care Cardiology
Key Words: adrenergic ß antagonists • hypertension
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
Data sources
PubMed (1950 to January 2006), reference lists of hypertension meta-analyses, and experts.
Study selection and assessment
randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with blinded assessment of outcome that compared ß blockers with placebo or other antihypertensive drugs as first line therapy for hypertension. 21 RCTs met the selection criteria: 10 trials (n = 50 612) involved younger patients (mean age 46–56 y), and 11 trials (n = 95 199) involved older patients (mean age 60–76 y).
Outcomes
a composite end point of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), or death; stroke; MI; death; and heart failure.
In younger patients, ß blockers reduced risk of the composite end point more than placebo and did not differ from other antihypertensive drugs (table
). In older patients, ß blockers did not differ from placebo for the composite end point and increased risk more than other antihypertensive drugs (table). In younger patients, ß blockers did
Androscoggin Cardiology Associates,
Auburn, Maine, USA
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
- Full Text
- Full Text (PDF)
- Submit a response
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in this journal
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Topic Collections
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
