Evaluating the effect on patient outcomes of appropriate and inappropriate use of beta-blockers as secondary prevention after myocardial infarction in a medicaid population

Abstract Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high mortality in the United States. Beta-blockers have been shown to reduce mortality and reinfarction rates when used for long-term prevention after an AMI. However, this therapy is both underused and misused. The effect of this practice on outcomes needs to be investigated. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect on patient outcomes (ie, fatality, health care utilization, and costs) of appropriate and inappropriate prescribing of beta-blocker therapy after AMI in a Medicaid population aged