Efficacy of beta blockers in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Studies investigating the efficacy of β-blocker agents on patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm have produced heterogeneous and conflicting results. This study was aimed to assess protective effects of β-blockers in terms of aortic events (dissection, rupture) and mortality in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm. A systematic literature search was performed through Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Pubmed and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane CENTRAL), all from inception to May 10, 2022. Randomized controlled trials exploring the efficacy of β-blocker agents in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm were considered for inclusion with no population restriction. Two independent reviewers performed the literature search. Two reviewers independently extracted all available prespecified relevant data in accordance with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews protocol. Summary effect measures of the primary outcomes were obtained by pooling the data with an inverse variance–weighted random-effects model. The overall risk of bias assessment was conducted by using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool A sensitivity analysis was performed regarding whether the conclusions reached might differ substantially if a single study was omitted. The primary outcome was aortic events (aortic dissection/rupture). Secondary outcomes were death (all-cause mortality) and aortic dissection. Two independent reviewers identified 4 RCTs presented in 5 reports from 1494 unique studies screened. Three trials involving 129 eligible participants compared β blockers (propranolol and celiprolol) with no treatment. One trial involving 32 eligible participants compared β blocker (atenolol) with placebo. This systematic review and meta-analysis included 161 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm (mean age, 27.6 years; 80 [49.7%] male, mean follow-up 6.7 years). The pooled risk ratio in the β-blocker arm for aortic events was 0.74 [95% CI (0.20; 2.71), I2: 0%, p=0.64] when comparing to the placebo or no treatment in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm. The pooled risk ratio for death (all-cause mortality) and aortic dissection in the β-blocker arm were 0.45 [95% CI (0.10; 1.98), I2: 0%, p=0.29] and 0.58 [95% CI (0.15; 2.24), I2: 0%, p=0.43], respectively. The risk of aortic dissection, rupture, or death were essentially identical, regardless of treatment group and subgroup analysis. A sensitivity analysis revealed that none of t