Beta Blockers Show No Benefit, Potential harm for Women after Heart Attack
Berlin – New research challenges decades of standard heart attack treatment protocols, finding beta blockers offer no significant advantage for women recovering from a heart attack and may even increase their risk of adverse outcomes.The study, published recently, indicates women treated with beta blockers after initial heart attack stabilization faced a significantly higher risk of death, subsequent heart attack, or hospitalization for heart failure compared to women not receiving the medication.
The findings contrast sharply with established guidelines recommending beta blockers for most heart attack patients.Researchers found the average follow-up period in the study was almost four years. While the medication showed no detriment to men in the study, women who received beta blockers where also more frequently prescribed other medications like ACE inhibitors, platelet aggregation inhibitors, or statins, raising questions about potential interactions and treatment layering.
“In many cases, the prescription of beta blockers to women after an uncomplicated heart attack can damage more than benefits,” the researchers warn, advocating for careful consideration of risks and benefits before treatment and potential dose adjustments or alternative therapies. The study underscores the importance of recognizing gender-related differences in heart attack recovery and moving towards personalized treatment plans. “The results of the study underline the importance of a personalized therapy after a heart attack.”
