PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Study questions long term beta blocker use to curb further heart attack risk

Accepted clinical practice, but no difference in outcomes in absence of clinical complications

2023-05-03
(Press-News.org) The accepted clinical practice of using beta blockers over the long term to curb the risk of further heart attacks or death doesn’t seem to be warranted in patients who don’t have heart failure, suggests a large study published in the journal Heart.

The researchers found no difference in these risks between patients taking beta blockers  more than a year after their heart attack and those who weren’t on these drugs.

Beta blockers are a class of drugs that are predominantly used to manage abnormal heart rhythms, as well as angina and high blood pressure. They are routinely prescribed after a heart attack to lower the risk of recurrence and other cardiovascular complications–a practice referred to as secondary prevention.

But it’s not clear if these drugs are warranted in patients who don’t have heart failure, or a potentially fatal complication of heart attack known as left ventricular systolic dysfunction, or LVSD for short, beyond the first year.

Most of the current evidence is based on the results of clinical trials that predate major changes to the routine care of heart attack patients, explain the researchers.

To strengthen the evidence base, the researchers drew on 43,618 adults who had had a heart attack between 2005 and 2016 that required hospital treatment, and whose details had been entered into the national Swedish register for coronary heart disease (SWEDEHEART). 

None of these patients had heart failure or LVSD: 34,253 of them were prescribed beta blockers and were still on these drugs 1 year after hospital discharge; 9365 hadn’t been prescribed these drugs. Their average age was 64 and around 1 in 4 were women. 

The researchers wanted to find out if there were any differences between the two groups in terms of deaths from any cause and rates of further heart attacks, revascularisation—a procedure to restore blood flow to parts of the heart—or hospital admission for heart failure.

The real time data showed that long term treatment with beta blockers wasn’t associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes during an average monitoring period of 4.5 years. 

Some 6475 (19%) of those on beta blockers, and 2028 (22%) of those who weren’t, died from any cause, or had another heart attack, or required unscheduled revascularisation, or were admitted to hospital for heart failure.

And after accounting for potentially influential factors, including demographics and relevant co-existing conditions, there was no discernible difference in the rates of these events between the two groups.

This is an observational study, and as such, can’t establish cause, And although it’s the largest study of its kind to date, the findings should be viewed in the context of certain limitations, acknowledge the researchers.

Patients weren’t randomly assigned to treatment; only certain cardiovascular outcomes were included; there was no indication of how consistently patients took their drugs; nor any information on their health related quality of life. 

And there were some differences between the two groups in respect of factors known to influence the risk of poor cardiovascular outcomes.

But, the researchers point out, beta blockers are associated with several side effects such as depression and fatigue, and it’s now time to reassess the value of long term treatment with these drugs in heart attack patients who don’t have heart failure or LVSD, they suggest.

In a linked editorial, Professor Ralph Stewart and Dr Tom Evans, of Green Lane Cardiovascular Services, Auckland, New Zealand (Aotearoa), state: “Despite strong evidence that long-term beta-blockers can improve outcomes after [heart attack], it has been uncertain whether this benefit applies to lower risk patients who are taking other evidence-based therapies and who have a [normal functioning heart].”

They point out:“Recommendations on the duration of beta blocker therapy are variable or absent because this question was not specifically evaluated in clinical trials. Most patients take daily medications for many years after a [heart attack] because they believe they are beneficial.” 

And they conclude: “[This] study raises an important question directly relevant to the quality of care—do patients with a normal [functioning heart] benefit from long term beta-blocker therapy after [heart attack]? To answer this question, more evidence from large randomised clinical trials is needed.”

END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Fresh hope for Australians living with chronic back pain

Fresh hope for Australians living with chronic back pain
2023-05-03
Long-term sufferers of chronic back pain experienced dramatic reductions in pain and related disability that remained at their one-year follow-up after taking part in a new treatment tested by Curtin-Macquarie-Monash University research. Published today in the leading medical journal The Lancet, the research found large clinically significant improvements in the intensity of pain and pain-related disability among almost 500 people who had been seeking help for their pain for an average of four years before trialling the new treatment. The treatment, which delivered a healthcare and work productivity saving of more than $5000 per person, took a whole-person approach ...

Dogs may be at risk from high levels of lead from shotgun pellets in raw pheasant dog food, study finds

2023-05-03
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE EMBARGOED UNTIL: 01:00 BST / LONDON TIME WEDNESDAY 3 MAY 2023 Paper available at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GNT9-oVOFTREzjGTSGMK7nIUvlYR61PE?usp=sharing Dogs may be at risk from high levels of lead from shotgun pellets in raw pheasant dog food, study finds Researchers tested samples of raw pheasant dog food and discovered that the majority contained high levels of lead that could put dogs’ health at risk if they eat it frequently. ...

Why mosses are vital for the health of our soil and Earth

2023-05-03
Some people see moss growing in their gardens as a problem, but what they may not realise is this ancient ancestor of all plants is bringing lots of benefits to our green spaces, such as protecting against erosion. Now a massive global study led by UNSW Sydney has found mosses are not just good for the garden, but are just as vital for the health of the entire planet when they grow on topsoil. Not only do they lay the foundations for plants to flourish in ecosystems around the world, they may play an important role mitigating against climate change by capturing ...

Hongkui Zeng elected to the National Academy of Sciences

Hongkui Zeng elected to the National Academy of Sciences
2023-05-03
Hongkui Zeng, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Director of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, a division of the Allen Institute, was today elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences for her work to understand the cells and connections in the mammalian brain, and leading the development of tools and openly available data resources that accelerate brain research worldwide. “I am deeply honored to become a member of the National Academy of Sciences, joining more than 3,000 brilliant scientists around the country and the world,” said Zeng. “I feel incredibly fortunate to work at the Allen Institute alongside ...

Dementia and self-harm: why it's crucial to support patients in first year after diagnosis

2023-05-03
People diagnosed with dementia are more likely to self-harm within the first six to 12 months after initial diagnosis, highlighting the need for health services to offer more follow-up support in this crucial period. In what is believed to be the largest study of its kind, researchers with expertise in medicine, psychiatry and psychology at UNSW Sydney looked at NSW hospital data captured for more than 180,000 people admitted to hospital between 2001 and 2015. The researchers analysed statistics relating to two cohorts of patients admitted to hospital: 154,811 people recorded as having dementia, and ...

Boxing can take the fight to Parkinson’s Disease

2023-05-03
When we think of boxing, it’s understandable many of us wouldn’t associate it with being ‘good’ for our brains.   However, new Edith Cowan University (ECU) research undertaken in partnership with The Perron Institute and boxer Rai Fazio has shown the sport — without an opponent — could be a valuable way for people suffering Parkinson’s Disease (PD) to improve their quality of life.   Also collaborating with Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and the University of Western Australia, ECU researchers had 10 people with early-stage PD perform three one-hour boxing sessions per week, over 15 weeks.   Rather ...

HKU’s innovative research novelties excel at 48th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva

HKU’s innovative research novelties excel at 48th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva
2023-05-03
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) triumphed at the 48th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, winning a total of 19 awards, including two special grand prizes Invention & Innovation CAI Award (China Delegation), and Prize of the Delegation of Malaysia. The results were announced yesterday (April 28). Research teams from Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Science, LKS Faculty of Medicine, and two HKU Inno Laboratories, established under the Hong Kong Government's InnoHK programme, garnered two special grand prizes, one Gold Medal with the Congratulations of the Jury, six Gold Medals, six Silver Medals ...

A novel stem cell adhesive using mussels

A novel stem cell adhesive using mussels
2023-05-03
Cartilage is a tissue that protects bones by providing shock absorption and facilitates smooth joint movement. Unfortunately, due to its limited intrinsic healing capacity, stem cell transplantation is a promising therapeutic approach to address cartilage inflammation and damage, as well as to promote cartilage regeneration. However, a major limitation of this technique is the rapid disappearance of transplanted stem cells from the smooth cartilage surface and fluidic environment around cartilage, resulting in less effective treatment outcomes. Recently, a  joint team of researchers from POSTECH, Dongguk University Medical Center, and Nature Gluetech in Korea ...

Virginia Tech researchers study the crowdsourced investigation of Jan. 6, 2021

Virginia Tech researchers study the crowdsourced investigation of Jan. 6, 2021
2023-05-03
How has online sleuthing successfully replaced wanted posters? Researchers within the Virginia Tech Department of Computer Science answered this question by studying the crowdsourced online investigation that followed the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. “These online communities can provide real value, if they’re organized in the right way,” said Kurt Luther,  associate professor of computer science and history. “These aren’t just digital witch hunts now that make false identifications. They can really make solid contributions to ongoing investigations by getting images in front of people, which ...

Survey: Half of parents believe their children’s mental health suffered due to social media during the past year

Survey: Half of parents believe their children’s mental health suffered due to social media during the past year
2023-05-03
COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 3, 2023) — Concerns continue to grow about the impact social media use has on the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. According to a new national survey conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of The On Our Sleeves Movement For Children’s Mental Health, half (50%) of parents of children younger than 18 feel their child(ren)’s mental health has suffered during the past 12 months because of social media use.  To best understand how social media is impacting their children’s mental health, On Our Sleeves encourages parents and caregivers to sit down and have ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

A new piece in the grass pea puzzle - updated genome sequence published

“Wearable” devices for cells

Cancer management: Stent sensor can warn of blockages in the bile duct

Nov. 14 AARP Author Q&A at GSA 2024 in Seattle: Debra Whitman, Global Aging Expert and Author of ‘The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond’

Autistic psychiatrists who don't know they're autistic may fail to spot autism in patients

New findings on animal viruses with potential to infect humans

Ancient rocks may bring dark matter to light

Study reveals acceleration in Pacific upper-ocean circulation over past 30 years, impacting global weather patterns

Virginia Tech researcher finds AI could help improve city planning

A trick of light: UC Irvine researchers turn silicon into direct bandgap semiconductor

NIH trial of rectal microbicide for HIV prevention begins in the United States

Development of a simple, revolutionary printing technique for periodic nano/microstructures

Drug supply chain issues more likely to result in shortages in US than Canada

Differences in Drug Shortages in the US and Canada

Survival outcomes of an early intervention smoking cessation treatment after a cancer diagnosis

Quitting smoking after cancer diagnosis improves survival across a wide variety of cancers

Genomic databases need more diversity

Biodiversity law that forces builders to compensate for nature loss could be twice as effective, experts claim

Study finds traditional open surgery for lymph node removal remains gold standard for testicular cancer

Weill Cornell Medicine receives grant to fund pain control research for critically ill children

New partnerships to provide travel grants, coursework in genomic approaches to infectious disease for underrepresented aspiring physicians

Off the clothesline, on the grid: MXene nanomaterials enable wireless charging in textiles

How COVID-19 transformed family dinners

New ESO image captures a dark wolf in the sky

New research reveals delayed evolutionary origin of Asteriidae sea stars

A paper-aluminum combo for strong, sustainable packaging

A novel neural network for preserving cultural heritage via 3D image reconstruction

Sleep apnea contributes to dementia in older adults, especially women

The silk thread that can turn clothes into charging stations

Glaucoma drug shows promise against neurodegenerative diseases, animal studies suggest

[Press-News.org] Study questions long term beta blocker use to curb further heart attack risk
Accepted clinical practice, but no difference in outcomes in absence of clinical complications