Current Place of Beta-Blockers in the Treatment of Hypertension

Agata      Bielecka-Dabrowa; Wilbert      S. Aronow; Jacek      Rysz; Maciej      Banach

doi:10.2174/157016110793563861

Abstract

Hypertension represents the most common cardiovascular risk factor, affecting more than 25% of the adult population in developed societies. Although beta-blockers have been previously shown to effectively reduce blood pressure and have been used for hypertension treatment for over 40 years, their effect on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients remains controversial and their use in uncomplicated hypertension is currently still under debate. According to the previous recommendations beta-blockers should not be preferred as first-line therapy in hypertension patients. This review summarizes the current knowledge on application of beta-blockers in patients with hypertension and discusses the most recent guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension (2009) on beta-blockers applications.

Keywords: Hypertension, antihypertensive treatment, beta-blocker, cardiovascular risk, beta-blockers, blood pressure, carteolol, carvedilol, labetalol, nadolol, penbutolol, pindolol, propranolol, timolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol, nebivolol, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, ESH/ESC 2007, European Lacidipine Study on Atherosclerosis, Losar-tan Intervention For Endpoint, Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial, Blood Pressure Low-ering Arm, International Verapamil-Trandolapril Study, Metoprolol Atherosclerosis Prevention in Hypertension, ACE inhibitors, Conduit Artery Function Evaluation, Canadian Hypertension Education Program, coronary artery disease CHF, congestive heart failure