SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH AND THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF BETA-ADRENOCEPTOR-BLOCKING DRUGS

Sudden cardiac death is a major health problem in the industrially dev eloped countries. The risk of sudden cardiac death may de reduced by e arly detection of coronary heart disease, elimination of the risk fact ors, treatment of the ischaemia in patients known to have coronary hea rt disease and suppression of ventricular arrhythmias. Of all the ther apeutic measures currently available to reduce the risk of sudden card iac death, beta-adrenoceptor-blocking drugs (beta blockers) appear to be the most effective. In this paper their actions are reviewed and ev idence for their efficacy is presented.