β-Blockers Are Beneficial and Safe in Patients with COPD

Evidence suggests that β-blockers are safe and beneficial, yet underused, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To examine whether β-blockers are associated with longer survival in COPD patients with first myocardial infarctions (MIs), U.K. investigators conducted this retrospective population-based cohort study of 1069 patients. Median follow-up after MI was 2.9 years.

Twenty-three percent of patients were taking β-blockers before hospitalization for MI, 22% received β-blocker prescriptions during hospitalization, and 55% never received prescriptions for β-blockers. Most of the prescribed β-blockers (83%) were cardioselective; most patients tolerated β-blockers well. After adjustment for multiple factors, patients w…