Study Connects Beta-Blockers with Increased Mortality Risk in Diabetes

Japanese researchers have recently discovered that beta-blockers could be associated with increased mortality risks among patients with diabetes. This is especially true among patients who have coronary heart disease (CHD).  

These findings came from examining approximately 3,000 participants with diabetes. Overall mortality over a period of 5-6 years was significantly higher among patients who took beta-blockers than those who did not. An even more pronounced effect was shown with patients with heart disease.

While beta-blockers have been shown to improve the survival rate of patients after myocardial infraction, they have not been shown to improve survival in other patients with stable congestive heart disease in the absence of myocardial infarction.

These findings were published in Mayo Clinical Proceedings on March 12, 2018.