Beta-adrenoblockers in cardiology practice

This article is focused on actual and disputable points of use of beta-blockers for decrease of cardiovascular events in patients with arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, diabetes mellitus and after non-cardiac surgical operations. Class of beta-blockers is very heterogeneous group of drugs which have different physical and chemical properties, various beta-receptor's selectivity and additional characteristics. That is why the popular concept of "class-effect" seems not valid for this particular pharmaceutical class. The need for independent direct comparisons of different beta-blockers in randomised controlled trials is discussed.