title: Beta-blockers are poorly tolerated by the elderly: myth or reality?
abstract: beta-blocker therapy can reduce mortality and risk of major cardiovascular events in older patients. Even though ss-blockers can provide benefits nearly equal to those experienced by younger patients, the drugs remain underutilized by the elderly. Consequently, underuse contributes to higher mortality and hospitalization rates among these patients. This derives, in part, from many factors that include physiologic changes accompanying aging, presence of comorbid diseases, use of multiple medications, issues of drug tolerability, and poor patient compliance; however, education can overcome some of these to facilitate more widespread use among elderly patients.
authors: College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2354, USA. jcooper@rx.uga.edu
authors: James W
authors: JW
authors: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000075202:Contraindications; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents