Beta-blockers after acute myocardial infarction in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus: time to reassess.
Beta-blockers effectively reduce mortality and recurrent cardiovascular events in patients surviving myocardial infarction. However, these agents are underused in clinical practice, especially in older patients with diabetes mellitus. The current literature shows that beta-blockers are at least as effective in older diabetic patients as in other patients, without major safety concerns for their possible adverse effects. The use of these agents in clinical practice should therefore be encouraged, in order to reduce the burden of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in older diabetic patients post-infarction.
Di Bari
Mauro
M
Department of Internal Medicine, Sticht Center on Aging, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. dibari@unifi.it
Marchionni
Niccolò
N
Pahor
Marco
M
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists