β-Blocker therapy and cardiovascular outcomes in patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention after ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Cardiovasc Interv Ther. 2013 Apr;28(2):139-47. doi: 10.1007/s12928-012-0137-9. Epub 2012 Oct 11.

Abstract

The effect of β-blockers in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who have undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been adequately evaluated. Using a large multi-center registry in Japan, we identified 3,692 patients who underwent PCI within 24 h from onset of STEMI and were discharged alive from 2005 to 2007. Three-year cardiovascular outcomes were compared between the 2 groups of patients with (N = 1,614) or without (N = 2,078) β-blocker prescription at discharge. Compared with patients in the no-β group, patients in the β group were younger, more frequently male, more often had hypertension and atrial fibrillation but less often had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than in the no-β group. Statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers were more frequently prescribed in the β group. Crude incidence of cardiac death and/or recurrent myocardial infarction (cardiac death/MI) tended to be higher in the β group (7.6 vs. 6.2%, log-rank p = 0.1). After adjusting for potential confounders, β-blockers were associated with significantly higher risk for cardiac death/MI (hazard ratio 1.43, 95% CI: 1.06-1.94, p = 0.01). β-Blocker prescription at discharge was not associated with better cardiovascular outcomes in patients who underwent PCI after STEMI. Large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate the role of β-blocker therapy in these patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carbazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Carvedilol
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Death
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / mortality
  • Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
  • Myocardial Infarction / therapy*
  • Patient Discharge
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention*
  • Propanolamines / therapeutic use*
  • Propensity Score
  • Registries
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Carbazoles
  • Propanolamines
  • Carvedilol