title: Can beta-blockers be used for people with COPD?
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disabling condition characterised by largely irreversible airflow obstruction, and affects over 3 million people in the UK. Due in large part to shared risk factors--notably smoking--patients with COPD often also have cardiovascular diseases, such as ischaemic heart disease and heart failure. In these conditions, beta-blockers are valuable management options with proven benefits on symptoms and mortality. Historically, however, clinicians have been reluctant to prescribe beta-blockers for patients with co-existing COPD, due to fear of provoking bronchoconstriction. Moreover, such patients have typically been excluded from trials of beta-blockers, raising additional concerns about the basis for treating them with these drugs. However, withholding beta-blocker therapy might lead to suboptimal treatment for cardiovascular disease among these patients. Here we review the efficacy and safety of beta-blockers in patients with COPD.
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D056687:Off-Label Use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D019141:Respiratory System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D019141:Respiratory System Agents