This drug may be common in a heart attack that has no value in fact for most people

The common treatment that has been provided after heart attacks may not be worthy of a large sector of the population. New experiment data finds that most people with a heart attack do not benefit from taking beta blockers after that.

A large international team of researchers conducted the experiment, which compared the results of approximately 10,000 patients with a heart attack that was given either the treatment of beta blockers or not.

On average, people with kept heart function were not less likely to die or a second heart attack than those who did not give beta blockers. Secondary data also showed that women may already have a greater risk of complications from taking these medications.

“This experiment will reshape all international clinical guidelines,” said Valentine Valentine, head of the Sinai Hart Hospital. statement From Mount Sinai.

Why doctors use beta blockers

For more than 40 years, Beta blockers It was a major aspect of cardiovascular treatment and management. These medications prevent the effects of adrenaline on beta receptors in the body, which reduces the heart rate and reduces blood pressure (among other physical changes). It is often used to reduce tension on a severe damaged heart after a heart attack (myocardial infarction), in theory to reduce the risk of a second heart attack or other cardiovascular problems.

But heart medicine has evolved greatly since the arrival of the first beta blockers in the 1960s. New treatments and improved knowledge have made it easier for doctors to prevent these infarities from causing great heart damage as before. This has prompted some researchers to ask whether beta blockers should be considered a front treatment after heart attacks, including the team behind this great new experience.

Treatment needs to be restarted

The trial of the team, called Reboot, included about 8,500 people. All patients had a relatively light heart attacks and they seemed to have a LVEF expelling part of 40 %. LVEF measures the extent of the left ventricle (the main pumping room) of the blood. LVEF is usually healthy than 51 %, while a slightly low function ranges between 40 % and 50 %.

They were randomly chosen by half of the patients to receive beta blockers after being drained from the hospital, while the other half did not receive anything. Then both groups were traced for several years (average length 3.7 years).

By the end of the study, there was no big difference in the results between the two groups. The deaths occurred (from any cause), secondary heart attacks, and hospitalization of heart failure as in the group of beta blockers as they did in the control group.

Since these types of heart attacks represent the majority of cases (about 80 %) today, the team’s results –Published During the weekend in the New England Journal of Medicine-prove that beta blockers should not be a standard treatment for most patients with heart attacks, the researchers say.

Harmful to some, useful to others

While the treatment of beta blockers may have no value for most male heart attack patients, it may be dangerous for women in particular.

In a secondary analysis of restart results, Published In the European Heart Journal, Women on Beta had the highest rates of heart attacks, hospitalization, and death more than women, not on the drug. When accurate examination, this added danger only appeared in women who maintained the natural heart function (LVEF above 50 %). Although it is not quite clear that women are exposed only to this danger, studies have found that heart attacks can A different introduction In women compared to men and causes various symptoms.

Results should improve long -term care for heart attacks, who often prescribe multiple medications to maintain cardiovascular health. “These results will help simplify treatment, reduce side effects, and improve the quality of life for thousands of patients every year,” said the author of Barga Ebans, the scientific director of the National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC.

However, the restarting experience will not bury beta blockers forever. Medicines may still help prevent complications in people with severe heart attacks It is widely used For other cases, including congestive heart failure, migraines and even anxiety in performance.