EFFECT OF BETA-ADRENERGIC BLOCKING-AGENTS ON MORTALITY-RATE IN PATIENTS NOT REVASCULARIZED AFTER MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION - DATA FROM A LARGE HMO

We investigated whether patients who do not undergo coronary angiograp hy and therefore any form of revascularization after a myocardial infa rction derive greater benefit from chronic beta-blocker therapy than p atients who undergo coronary angiography. With multivariate analyses, treatment with beta-blockers was a much stronger predictor of survival in patients who did not undergo coronary angiography (relative risk = 0.38, p = 0.005) than in those patients who did undergo catheterizati on (p < 0.05 for interaction). Our findings provide direct support for the recommendation by the American College of Cardiology/American Hea rt Association task Force that beta-blocker therapy should be initiate d for all infarct survivors who do not undergo revascularization and w ho have no contraindications.