β-Blockers for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

β-blockers were associated with lower mortality and fewer acute exacerbations in patients with COPD.

Dogma around use of β-blocker medications in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been to avoid using them, because they might precipitate acute exacerbations. However, COPD could be a risk factor in atherosclerotic disease progression (by causing systemic inflammation), and β-blockers lengthen survival in patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure. Additionally, meta-analysis data demonstrate that β-blockers are safe in patients with stable COPD (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005; 4:CD003566).

Researchers in the Netherlands followed a cohort of 2230 COPD patients for a mean of 7 years to determine whether long-term β-blocker use lengthened survival and lowered risk for COPD exacerbations. Compared with p…

Reviewing Author

Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MSc, SFHM

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

Editorial BoardsMedical Clinics of North America; Caribbean Medical Journal International Advisory Panel (2021–2026)

Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MSc, SFHM

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

Editorial BoardsMedical Clinics of North America; Caribbean Medical Journal International Advisory Panel (2021–2026)

β-Blockers for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

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Reviewing Author