In a nutshell
This study investigated if bisoprolol (Zebeta) is safe and effective for long-term angina treatment.
They found that bisoprolol was effective and well-tolerated long-term.
Some background
Angina is chest pain caused by reduced oxygen supply to the heart. Reduced blood flow to the heart can be caused by blockages in vessels supplying blood to the heart. This is called coronary heart disease (CHD). Angina is a symptom of CHD.
Angina is usually treated with medications called beta (β)-blockers (BBs). BBs reduce blood pressure, heart rate and improve the pain associated with angina. They block receptors in the blood vessels called beta-adrenergic receptors (BARs). Blocking these receptors prevents blood pressure from rising. There are many BB medications available to patients. Some BBs block specific BARs. Bisoprolol is a BB that blocks BAR1. It is unclear if certain BBs are more effective at reducing long-term mortality risk due to CHD.
Methods & findings
This study included 7607 patients with angina. 987 (12.9%) patients were treated with bisoprolol, 1348 (17.7%) were treated with other BBs (oBBs) and 5272 (69.4%) were treated with non-BB drugs (non-BBs). Patient medical records were analyzed to determine mortality risk. Patients were treated for up to 14 years.
Patients taking bisoprolol required less treatment (average 1.5 years) than patients taking oBBs (2.6 years) or non-BBs (2.5 years). Patients taking bisoprolol had a 55% reduced risk of death compared to patients taking oBBs. They also had a 50% reduced death risk compared to patients taking non-BBs. The risk of heart attack was 55% lower in bisoprolol-treated patients compared to oBBs. The risk of secondary angina (-42%) and irregular heartbeat (-39%) was also reduced in bisoprolol-treated patients compared to other groups.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that bisoprolol was effective and well-tolerated long-term in patients with angina.
The fine print
Patients taking bisoprolol had lower blood pressure (BP) levels before treatment. It is unclear if bisoprolol is beneficial for patients with higher BP.
What’s next?
If you have any concerns regarding angina or CHD management, please consult with your physician.
Published By :
Pharmacological research
Date :
Nov 05, 2018
