title: The effect of a week's beta-adrenoceptor antagonism on daytime heart-rates, subjective responses to exercise, and physical activity in normal subjects.
abstract: The effects on heart rate (HR) and physical activity of 1 week's treatment with three different beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (20 mg betaxolol (Lorex); 160 mg propranolol LA; or 100 mg atenolol daily) have been compared with placebo in a double-blind study of 12 normal men. On the fifth day of each treatment a body-borne tape-recorder was worn during waking hours for recording of ECG and footfall signals. Each record was calibrated in terms of the subject's response to laboratory ergometer exercise, and a computer analysis provided objective indices of physical activity. While on beta-adrenoceptor antagonists the subjects perceived standard exercise as significantly harder than on placebo and reported more side-effects (albeit mild and transient). Ambulatory monitoring of HR showed that subjects spent 13% of their waking day at heart rates below 50 beats min-1 while on propranolol, compared with 1% on placebo and 20% on atenolol and betaxolol. On these latter drugs, the group spent as much as 10% of their waking time with HR below 45 beats min-1. The lowest individual heart-rates recorded were below 35 beats min-1. Objective indices of physical activity, such as the duration of periods spent with heart rates above the HR found at 100 W in the ergometer test, showed no differences between the treatments. This negative finding was confirmed by pedometer step counts over the whole week.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wharrad
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Birmingham
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D015784:Betaxolol; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000187:drug effects*; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011412:Propanolamines; D001262:Atenolol; D011433:Propranolol; D015784:Betaxolol