Beta blockers ‘potentially harmful’ in patients with HIV

RAAS inhibitors may be the best option for lowering blood pressure in this population, researchers say

Patients living with HIV who have hypertension are nearly twice as likely to have a cardiovascular event if initiated on beta blockers compared with ACEIs or ARBs, a study shows.

The findings, based on real-world data from the US, show for the first time which agents have greatest efficacy among HIV-positive people and that beta blockers can be harmful, the researchers say.