Long-term beta blocker use after heart attack not beneficial

They’re prescribed as a first line of defence in patients who have suffered a heart attack, but new research has brought the role of beta blockers in preventing further attacks into question.

It’s no secret that heart attacks and other forms of coronary heart disease (CHD) are the leading cause of death in Australia. Every day, there are approximately 155 ‘acute coronary events’ in this country, of which around 18 are fatal.

After suffering a heart attack, most cardiologists will prescribe a type of medication called a beta blocker in order to lower the risk of any further cardiovascular events.

Beta blockers work by slowing down your heart rate, which will in turn lower your blood pressure – a known risk factor for another heart attack. They also block certain stress hormones that are known to affect your heart as well.

Along with aspirin, these types of drugs are often prescribed for at least 12 months after having a heart attack, if not for the rest of your life.

But in a study published in the journal Heart, researchers found long-term beta blocker use did not improve cardiovascular health or reduce the risk of further heart attacks.

The study used medical records from the Swedish national register for coronary heart disease of 43,618 adults who had suffered a heart attack requiring hospitalisation between 2005 and 2016.

One year after the cardiac episode, 34,253 (78 per cent) of patients were still taking beta blockers, while 9365 (22 per cent) were not. The average age of participants was 64, and around three-quarters were men.

Over a follow-up period of 4.5 years, the research compared the two groups for their rate of death from any cause, any further heart attacks, any further need for ‘re-vascularisation’ (stent or bypass surgery) or heart failure.

The researchers found that 6475 (19 per cent) of the group still on beta blockers experienced one of these events.

For the group not taking beta blockers, the number was 2028, or 22 per cent of the group. After taking into account demographics and relevant co-morbidity factors, the researchers found there was no discernible difference between the two groups.

In the conclusion of their report, the researchers say that their data showed long-term beta blocker use was not associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes following a heart attack.

But cardiologist Dr Hoang Nguyen told Medical News Today beta blockers will continue to form a crucial part of post-heart attack treatment for certain patients.

“In patients with a history of coronary artery disease who are not candidates for bypass surgery or stents, beta blockers are essential to reduce symptoms of angina (chest pain) and hospitalisations for this symptom,” he said.

Have you ever had a heart attack? Were you prescribed beta blockers? Let us know in the comments section below.

Also read: Almost half can’t identify heart attack symptoms, study finds