The implications of a growing evidence base for drug use in elderly patients. Part 3. Beta-adrenoceptor blockers in heart failure and thrombolytics in acute myocardial infarction.
Beta-adrenoceptor blockers and thrombolytic agents are of established value in the pharmacological management of heart failure and ST-elevation myocardial infarction, respectively. However, there is uncertainty as to whether these therapeutic strategies can be safely and effectively adopted in elderly patients with comorbidities, particularly in old-old individuals. This review focuses on these trials and the age-related efficacy and safety of these drugs.
Mangoni
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Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. arduino.mangoni@flinders.edu.au
Jackson
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