Beta-blockers are under-prescribed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and co-morbid cardiac disease.
The use of beta-blockers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and co-morbid cardiovascular disease is controversial, despite increasing evidence to support their use as safe and efficacious. This study retrospectively assessed the rates of beta-blocker prescription in patients admitted to two Australian tertiary hospitals for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This revealed that less than half of patients (45%) with known cardiac indications were receiving beta-blocker therapy, evident across all degrees of airways disease severity. Further work is needed to ensure that medical management of this patient group is optimised.
General Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. pieter.neef@austin.org.au.
P A
PA
Neef
Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
C F
CF
McDonald
Department of Medicine and Cardiology, The University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
L M
LM
Burrell
Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
L B
LB
Irving
General Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
D F
DF
Johnson
Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
D P
DP
Steinfort
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D015897:Comorbidity; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

COPD
; beta-blocker; cardiovascular disease; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; prescription