Selection of patients for beta-blocking treatment after myocardial infarction

Based on published studies of patients the following conclusions may be made (a) Long-term mortality and reinfarction rate can be reduced. (b) No practically effective or meaningful restricted selection of patients for treatment with beta blockers is possible. (c) Treatment starting when patients have stabilized in hospital usually after 5–7 days is well documented. (d) Treatment should be maintained 2–3 years and the individual indications should then be re-evaluated. (e) Beta blockers other than timolol, propranolol, metaprolol and alprenolol have yet to be documented.