Researchers based out of the Cardiac and Vascular Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, report that while using beta-blockers, the standard of care for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) did not lower the risk of stroke, heart attacks, nor did it lower the risk in those with risk factors for the disease.

Sripal Bangalore, MD, lead author, assistant professor in the department of medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, emphasizes that none of the patient populations, including those with history of heart attack, exhibited benefits from the beta-blocker treatment, “This is concerning in light of current treatment patterns and reveals a need for more education among practitioners who treat patients for heart attack and stroke.”

According to a recent news release, the study encompassed more than 40,000 patients. The observational analysis ultimately sought to assess the potential link between beta-blocker use and long-term cardiovascular outcomes including cardiovascular death, nonfatal stroke or nonfatal heart attack.

Researchers report that they separated patients into three groups, with 31% of patients who had sustained a prior heart attack in one group, those with CAD but no prior heart attack (27%) in a second group, and 42% of patients who had CAD risk factors only in the third. The release notes that all patients were also enrolled in the Reduction of Antherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) registry. Researchers reportedly followed the patients for 44 months, continually collecting data, with the last data collection occurring in April 2009. 

Bangalore notes that the study’s findings reinforce the necessity for further research targeting the assessment of which patient populations exhibit a clear benefit from beta-blocker therapy, “In addition, further study needs to be conducted to assess optimal duration of therapy in these patient subsets,” Bangalore adds.

Source: NYU Langone Medical Center