Do you continue beta-blocker therapy beyond 1 year after myocardial infarction in a stable patient with normal LV systolic function when the only remaining indication is mildly elevated blood pressure that could be managed with an alternative agent?

In 1982, a landmark study, the Beta-Blocker Heart Attack Trial, BHAT showed that significant mortality reductions were achieved when propanolol was prescribed post-MI for an average follow-up period of 25 months. This was followed by a Norwegian study and the Stockholm Metoprolol study, which confir...

It has been a long-standing practice to continue beta blockers indefinitely after MI. New studies are calling into question the need for long-term beta blockers in patients with normal LV function and no angina. I have been scrutinizing my use of beta blockers and have taken some patients off who ha...