These Drugs May Be Risky for Some Surgery Patients
By Amy Norton
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Some people on blood pressure drugs called beta blockers may face heightened risks of heart complications during non-cardiac surgeries, a new, large study suggests.
The research involved over 55,000 surgery patients who were on various drugs to treat high blood pressure. The investigators found that those on beta blockers had a higher risk of heart attack, stroke or related death, compared to patients on other medications.
Overall, 1.3 percent suffered one of those complications within 30 days of surgery, compared with 0.8 percent of patients on other blood pressure drugs.
It's not certain that beta blockers, themselves, are to blame, said lead researcher Dr. Mads Jorgensen, of the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark.
And, he stressed, the study included only people with "uncomplicated" high blood pressure -- and not those with heart problems. Heart patients might get some benefit from a beta blocker if they're having surgery, Jorgensen explained.
But the findings add to evidence that beta blockers can pose a hazard to some patients having non-cardiac surgery, he added.
The findings were published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Beta blockers include drugs like metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard) and propranolol (Inderal LA). They are prescribed to help treat high blood pressure, especially for people who have had a heart attack or suffer from chronic heart failure.
For years, beta blockers were also routinely prescribed ahead of surgical procedures -- of all kinds -- for people who might have an increased risk of heart complications, Jorgensen explained.
"Back in the day, we felt confident that patients needed beta blockers," he said.
That was based on evidence that the drugs can cut the risk of heart attack and other heart complications during or soon after surgery.
However, more recent research has shown that beta blockers may also raise the risks of stroke, and dangerous drops in blood pressure and heart rate.
"For a while now, doctors have been debating whether they're truly helpful," said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of clinical cardiology at National Jewish Health, in Denver.
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Some people on blood pressure drugs called beta blockers may face heightened risks of heart complications during non-cardiac surgeries, a new, large study suggests.
The research involved over 55,000 surgery patients who were on various drugs to treat high blood pressure. The investigators found that those on beta blockers had a higher risk of heart attack, stroke or related death, compared to patients on other medications.
Overall, 1.3 percent suffered one of those complications within 30 days of surgery, compared with 0.8 percent of patients on other blood pressure drugs.
It's not certain that beta blockers, themselves, are to blame, said lead researcher Dr. Mads Jorgensen, of the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark.
And, he stressed, the study included only people with "uncomplicated" high blood pressure -- and not those with heart problems. Heart patients might get some benefit from a beta blocker if they're having surgery, Jorgensen explained.
But the findings add to evidence that beta blockers can pose a hazard to some patients having non-cardiac surgery, he added.
The findings were published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Beta blockers include drugs like metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard) and propranolol (Inderal LA). They are prescribed to help treat high blood pressure, especially for people who have had a heart attack or suffer from chronic heart failure.
For years, beta blockers were also routinely prescribed ahead of surgical procedures -- of all kinds -- for people who might have an increased risk of heart complications, Jorgensen explained.
"Back in the day, we felt confident that patients needed beta blockers," he said.
That was based on evidence that the drugs can cut the risk of heart attack and other heart complications during or soon after surgery.
However, more recent research has shown that beta blockers may also raise the risks of stroke, and dangerous drops in blood pressure and heart rate.
"For a while now, doctors have been debating whether they're truly helpful," said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of clinical cardiology at National Jewish Health, in Denver.
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