Is beta-blocker prescription necessary post-heart attack?
A study conducted by researchers in Sweden and published in the journal New England Journal of Medicine determined whether the standard practice of prescribing beta-blockers after a heart attack improved the risk of a future cardiovascular event or death.
Heart attacks are a leading cause of death, and according to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 600,000 people experience their first heart attack each year. Beta-blockers are commonly prescribed following a heart attack to reduce the risk of a subsequent cardiovascular event. While beta-blockers are helpful for many reasons and can lower heart rate and blood pressure, there are some drawbacks to taking beta-blockers.
The REDUCE-AMI trial investigated whether beta-blockers decrease the risk of death or recurrent heart attacks in individuals with normal ejection fraction post-heart attack. Running from September 2017 to May 2023, the trial enrolled 5,020 participants from 45 healthcare centres. Participants had normal ejection fraction and underwent coronary angiography. They were randomly assigned beta-blockers (metoprolol or bisoprolol) for long-term treatment, with a median follow-up of 3.5 years.
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