Clinical Evidence that β-Adrenoceptor Blockers Prevent More Cardiovascular Complications than Other Antihypertensive Drugs

Summary

Using a computer file from the Glasgow Blood Pressure Clinic, an analysis was made of the results of treatment in 920 (453 male and 467 female) consecutive patients below the age of 65 years who received antihypertensive medication. Vascular complications had developed prior to treatment in 242 patients. β- Blocking drugs (mainly oxprenolol and propranolol) were used alone or in combination with other drugs at some stage in 416 patients, whereas 504 patients never received β- blockers. There was a highly significant tendency both for men and women who had received β- blockers to suffer fewer heart attacks and strokes than those treated with other types of therapy. This trend was found in patients presenting initially with or without previous vascular complications, and was present both in patients aged 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 years of age. There was no significant difference in the height of the blood pressure prior to starting therapy in the 2 therapeutic sub- groups, and no difference in the average blood pressure while receiving treatment.

On the basis of this uncontrolled study of the results of treating patients in a busy blood pressure clinic, we conclude that β- adrenoceptor blockers have advantages over other antihypertensive drugs. Formal clinical trials are needed to confirm this, but our data suggest that all hypertensive patients should receive a β- blocker as part of their antihypertensive regimen (provided that specific contraindications do not exist).