Beta Blockers Lower Mortality after Acute Myocardial Infarction in COPD Patients
Clinical question: Does the use and timing of beta blockers in COPD patients experiencing a first myocardial infarction (MI) affect survival after the event?
Background: Beta blockers are effective in reducing mortality and reinfarction after an MI; however, concerns regarding the side effects of beta blockers, such as bronchospasm, continue to limit their use in patients with COPD.
Study design: Population-based cohort study.
Setting: The Myocardial Ischemia National Audit Project, linked to the General Practice Research Database, in the United Kingdom.
Synopsis: Researchers identified 1,063 patients over the age of 18 with COPD admitted to the hospital with a first acute MI. Use of beta blockers during hospitalization was associated with increased overall and one-year survival. Initiation of beta blockers during an MI had a mortality-adjusted hazard ratio of 0.50 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.69; P<0.001; median follow-up time=2.9 years).
Patients already on beta blockers prior to the MI had overall survival-adjusted hazard ratio of 0.59 (95% CI 0.44 to 0.79; P<0.001). Both scenarios showed survival benefits compared to COPD patients who were not prescribed beta blockers. Patients given beta blockers with COPD either during the MI hospitalization or before the event were younger and had fewer comorbidities. This may have accounted for some of the survival bias.
Bottom line: The use of beta blockers in patients with COPD started prior to, or at the time of, hospital admission for a first MI is associated with improved survival.
Citation: Quint JK, Herret E, Bhaskaran K, et al. Effect of ß blockers on mortality after myocardial infarction in adults with COPD: population-based cohort study of UK electronic healthcare records. BMJ. 2013;347:f6650.
