RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Can beta-blockers be used for people with COPD?
JF Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
JO Drug Ther Bull
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 2
OP 5
DO 10.1136/dtb.2011.01.0003
VO 49
IS 1
YR 2011
UL http://dtb.bmj.com/content/49/1/2.abstract
AB Relevant BNF section: BNF 2.4 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disabling condition characterised by largely irreversible airflow obstruction, and affects over 3 million people in the UK.1 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.2 3 In these conditions, beta-blockers are valuable management options with proven benefits on symptoms and mortality.4–6 Historically, however, clinicians have been reluctant to prescribe beta-blockers for patients with co-existing COPD, due to fear of provoking bronchoconstriction.3 Moreover, such patients have typically been excluded from trials of beta-blockers, raising additional concerns about the basis for treating them with these drugs.7 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.