Beta blocker use beyond three years after an MI doesn’t seem to improve long-term outcomes, according to an analysis.

US researchers examined data from a registry on almost 6900 MI patients aged 65 and over who were discharged on beta blocker therapy and alive three years later without a recurrent MI.

The team from Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, North Carolina, found that 72% were still on a beta blocker at three years, and 43% were taking at least half the recommended target dose.

However, beta blocker use was not associated with a significant difference in the cardiovascular composite of all-cause mortality, hospitalisation for recurrent MI, ischaemic stroke or heart failure over the subsequent five years (52% vs 55%).