Abstract
BackgroundCardiovascular disease is a primary cause of death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Beta-blockers have been proved to reduce morbidity and improve survival in patients with cardiac diseases. But the effects of beta-blockers on outcomes in patients with COPD remain controversial. The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the effect of beta-blockers on mortality and exacerbation in patients with COPD.MethodsAn extensive search of the EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane was performed to retrieve the studies of beta-blockers treatment in patients with COPD. The random effects model meta-analysis was used to evaluate effect on overall mortality and exacerbation of COPD.ResultsFifteen original observational cohort studies with a follow-up time from 1 to 7.2 years were included. The results revealed that beta-blockers treatment significantly decreased the risk of overall mortality and exacerbation of COPD. The relative risk (RR) for overall mortality was 0.72 (0.63 to 0.83), and for exacerbation of COPD was 0.63 (0.57 to 0.71). In subgroup analysis of COPD patients with coronary heart disease or heart failure, the risk for overall mortality was 0.64 (0.54–0.76) and 0.74 (0.58–0.93), respectively.ConclusionThe findings of this meta-analysis confirmed that beta-blocker use in patients with COPD may not only decrease the risk of overall mortality but also reduce the risk of exacerbation of COPD. Beta-blocker prescription for cardiovascular diseases needs to improve in COPD patients.
Highlights
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a growing concern in public health and one of the leading causes of death worldwide [1]
Many patients with COPD have concomitant cardiovascular diseases, and about 37% of patients with COPD die from coronary heart disease or heart failure, compared with 34% of those die from COPD itself [2]
5 studies looked at subjects with COPD who had coronary heart disease [23, 24, 30, 31, 34]
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a growing concern in public health and one of the leading causes of death worldwide [1]. Impaired lung function seems to be an independent and powerful risk factor for arrhythmias, coronary events, and a specific predictor of cardiac mortality [3]. These coexisting conditions present therapeutic challenges for clinicians. The results revealed that beta-blockers treatment significantly decreased the risk of overall mortality and exacerbation of COPD. In subgroup analysis of COPD patients with coronary heart disease or heart failure, the risk for overall mortality was 0.64 (0.54– 0.76) and 0.74 (0.58–0.93), respectively. Conclusion: The findings of this meta-analysis confirmed that beta-blocker use in patients with COPD may decrease the risk of overall mortality and reduce the risk of exacerbation of COPD. Beta-blocker prescription for cardiovascular diseases needs to improve in COPD patients
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