Vnitr Lek 2025, 71(3):156-161 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2025.028

The effect of long‑term beta‑blocker therapy in patients after myocardial infarction with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction

Robert Holaj
III. interní klinika - klinika endokrinologie a metabolismu 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha

The long-term use of beta-blockers in patients after myocardial infarction (MI) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) remains controversial. While benefits of beta-blockers are well established in patients with reduced LVEF, there is a lack of randomized clinical trial data for patients with LVEF > 40 %. Two recent studies (REDUCE-AMI and ABYSS) yielded conflicting results regarding the safety of beta-blocker discontinuation. REDUCE-AMI showed no mortality or reinfarction benefit from long-term beta-blocker therapy, while ABYSS indicated increased cardiovascular hospitalizations, especially in hypertensive patients. Results of meta-analyses remain inconclusive. Fixed-dose combinations of beta-blockers with other cardiovascular medications may improve adherence and long-term outcomes, particularly in hypertensive patients. Ongoing randomized trials (BETAMI, DANBLOCK, REBOOT) may provide definitive answers.

Keywords: myocardial infarction (MI), preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), beta-blockers, hypertension, cardiovascular risk.

Accepted: April 28, 2025; Published: May 16, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Holaj R. The effect of long‑term beta‑blocker therapy in patients after myocardial infarction with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Vnitr Lek. 2025;71(3):156-161. doi: 10.36290/vnl.2025.028.
Download citation

References

  1. Freemantle N, Cleland J, Young P, et al. beta Blockade after myocardial infarction: systematic review and meta regression analysis. BMJ (Clinical research ed. 1999;318(7200):1730-7. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  2. Martinez-Milla J, Raposeiras-Roubin S, Pascual-Figal DA, et al. Role of Beta-blockers in Cardiovascular Disease in 2019. Revista espanola de cardiologia. 2019;72(10):844-52. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  3. Dahl Aarvik M, Sandven I, Dondo TB, et al. Effect of oral beta-blocker treatment on mortality in contemporary post-myocardial infarction patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Pharmacother. 2019;5(1):12-20. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  4. Zeitouni M, Kerneis M, Lattuca B, et al. Do Patients need Lifelong beta-Blockers after an Uncomplicated Myocardial Infarction? Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2019;19(5):431-8. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  5. Raposeiras-Roubin S, Abu-Assi E, Redondo-Dieguez A, et al. Prognostic Benefit of Beta-blockers After Acute Coronary Syndrome With Preserved Systolic Function. Still Relevant Today? Revista espanola de cardiologia. 2015;68(7):585-91. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  6. Dondo TB, Hall M, West RM, et al. beta-Blockers and Mortality After Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients Without Heart Failure or Ventricular Dysfunction. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2017;69(22):2710-20. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  7. Kim J, Kang D, Park H, et al. Long-term beta-blocker therapy and clinical outcomes after acute myocardial infarction in patients without heart failure: nationwide cohort study. European heart journal. 2020;41(37):3521-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  8. McDonagh TA, Metra M, Adamo M, et al. 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure. European heart journal. 2021;42(36):3599-726. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  9. Watanabe H, Ozasa N, Morimoto T, et al. Long-term use of carvedilol in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. PLoS One. 2018;13(8):e0199347. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  10. Munkhaugen J, Ruddox V, Halvorsen S, et al. BEtablocker Treatment After acute Myocardial Infarction in revascularized patients without reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (BETAMI): Rationale and design of a prospective, randomized, open, blinded end point study. American heart journal. 2019;208:37-46. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  11. Kristensen AMD, Bovin A, Zwisler AD, et al. Design and rationale of the Danish trial of beta-blocker treatment after myocardial infarction without reduced ejection fraction: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2020;21(1):415. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  12. Rossello X, Raposeiras-Roubin S, Latini R, et al. Rationale and design of the pragmatic clinical trial tREatment with Beta-blockers after myOcardial infarction withOut reduced ejection fracTion (REBOOT). Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Pharmacother. 2022;8(3):291-301. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  13. Puymirat E, Riant E, Aissaoui N, et al. beta blockers and mortality after myocardial infarction in patients without heart failure: multicentre prospective cohort study. BMJ (Clinical research ed. 2016;354:i4801. Go to original source...
  14. Mars K, Wallert J, Held C, et al. Association between beta-blocker dose and cardiovascular outcomes after myocardial infarction: insights from the SWEDEHEART registry. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. 2021;10(4):372-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  15. Neumann A, Maura G, Weill A, et al. Clinical Events After Discontinuation of beta-Blockers in Patients Without Heart Failure Optimally Treated After Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Cohort Study on the French Healthcare Databases. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2018;11(4):e004356. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  16. Yndigegn T, Lindahl B, Mars K, et al. Beta-Blockers after Myocardial Infarction and Preserved Ejection Fraction. The New England journal of medicine. 2024;390(15):1372-81. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  17. Silvain J, Cayla G, Ferrari E, et al. Beta-Blocker Interruption or Continuation after Myocardial Infarction. The New England journal of medicine. 2024;391(14):1277-86. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  18. Chi KY, Lee PL, Chowdhury I, et al. Beta-Blockers for Secondary Prevention following Myocardial Infarction in Patients Without Reduced Ejection Fraction or Heart Failure: An Updated Meta-Analysis. European journal of preventive cardiology. 2024. Go to original source...
  19. Montalescot G, Giovachini L, Silvain J. Beta-Blockers After Myocardial Infarction: Returning From Injured Reserve. European journal of preventive cardiology. 2025. Go to original source...
  20. Gillman MW, Kannel WB, Belanger A, et al. Influence of heart rate on mortality among persons with hypertension: the Framingham Study. American heart journal. 1993;125(4):1148-54. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...




Vnitřní lékařství

Madam, Sir,
please be aware that the website on which you intend to enter, not the general public because it contains technical information about medicines, including advertisements relating to medicinal products. This information and communication professionals are solely under §2 of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. Is active persons authorized to prescribe or supply (hereinafter expert).
Take note that if you are not an expert, you run the risk of danger to their health or the health of other persons, if you the obtained information improperly understood or interpreted, and especially advertising which may be part of this site, or whether you used it for self-diagnosis or medical treatment, whether in relation to each other in person or in relation to others.

I declare:

  1. that I have met the above instruction
  2. I'm an expert within the meaning of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. the regulation of advertising, as amended, and I am aware of the risks that would be a person other than the expert input to these sites exhibited


No

Yes

If your statement is not true, please be aware
that brings the risk of danger to their health or the health of others.