Beta blockers for elective surgery in elderly patients: population based, retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To test whether atenolol (a long acting beta blocker) and metoprolol (a short acting beta blocker) are associated with equivalent reductions in risk for elderly patients undergoing elective surgery.

Design

Population based, retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting

Acute care hospitals in Ontario, Canada, over one decade.

Participants

Consecutive patients older than 65 who were admitted for elective surgery, without symptomatic coronary disease.

Main outcome measure

Death or myocardial infarction.

Results

37,151 patients were receiving atenolol or metoprolol before surgery, of which the most common operations were orthopaedic or abdominal procedures. As expected, the two groups were similar in demographic characteristics, medical therapy, a

SUBMITTER: Redelmeier D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1261186 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature