Are Beta-Blockers Safe for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes?
Patients with type 2 diabetes who take β-blockers are at an increased risk for cardiovascular events, according to the findings of a recent study.
The researchers used data from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes trial to evaluate the possible association between β-blocker use and hypoglycemia. A total of 2527 participants with diabetes who were taking β-blockers were included and followed for a mean 4.6±1.6 years. In addition, a total of 2527 participants not taking β-blockers were included and followed for a mean 4.7±1.6 years. The primary outcome of the study was the first occurrence of a cardiovascular event during follow-up, including nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, nonfatal stroke, and cardiovascular death.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
RELATED CONTENT
Diabetics on Beta-Blockers and Intensive Glycemic Therapy Have Fewer CV Events
Could Perioperative Beta-Blockers Increase Cardiovascular Risk?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Compared with patients who did not take β-blockers, patients taking β-blockers had a significantly higher cardiovascular event rate and incidence of severe hypoglycemia.
Patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure taking β-blockers had a significantly higher cardiovascular event rate compared with those not taking β-blockers.
“This study demonstrated that the use of β-blockers was associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events and severe hypoglycemia in the modern era,” the researchers concluded. “Furthermore, a similar relationship between the use of β-blockers and cardiovascular events was found in patients with heart disease.”
“The indication of β-blockers may need to be reconsidered when this connection is elucidated through future higher-level evidence.”
—Melissa Weiss
Reference:
Tsujimoto T, Sugiyama T, Shapiro MF, Noda M, and Kajio H. Risk of cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes mellitus on β-Blockers [published online May 30, 2017]. Hypertension. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.117.09259.