title: Beta-blockers reduced the risk of mortality and exacerbation in patients with COPD: a meta-analysis of observational studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular disease is a primary cause of death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Beta-blockers have been proved to reduce morbidity and improve survival in patients with cardiac diseases. But the effects of beta-blockers on outcomes in patients with COPD remain controversial. The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the effect of beta-blockers on mortality and exacerbation in patients with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  An extensive search of the EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane was performed to retrieve the studies of beta-blockers treatment in patients with COPD. The random effects model meta-analysis was used to evaluate effect on overall mortality and exacerbation of COPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen original observational cohort studies with a follow-up time from 1 to 7.2 years were included. The results revealed that beta-blockers treatment significantly decreased the risk of overall mortality and exacerbation of COPD. The relative risk (RR) for overall mortality was 0.72 (0.63 to 0.83), and for exacerbation of COPD was 0.63 (0.57 to 0.71). In subgroup analysis of COPD patients with coronary heart disease or heart failure, the risk for overall mortality was 0.64 (0.54-0.76) and 0.74 (0.58-0.93), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this meta-analysis confirmed that beta-blocker use in patients with COPD may not only decrease the risk of overall mortality but also reduce the risk of exacerbation of COPD. Beta-blocker prescription for cardiovascular diseases needs to improve in COPD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Department of Emergency, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
authors.forename: Qingxia
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Department of Emergency, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
authors.forename: Yongchang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Department of Emergency, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Department of Emergency, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
authors.forename: Lijin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Department of Emergency, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D012306:Risk; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists