Beta-blockers: recognising the assets in relation to coronary artery disease

Beta-blockers have been shown to reduce the risk of coronary events and reduce the mortality of patients with hypertension and in those who have had a myocardial infarction. Furthermore, the evidence for long-term benefits in these two patient groups are much more convincing for beta-blockers than for other therapeutic agents used to treat these patient groups. In spite of this beta-blockers are underused because doctors believe that these drugs are contraindicated in many vulnerable patient groups. The data now available from the many trials and observational studies have shown that patients such as the elderly, those with some degree of heart failure, diabetics and those with chronic lung disease not only tolerate beta blockers but derive more benefit than more healthy patient groups.