For many years, beta blockers have been given routinely to patients undergoing surgery to reduce the risk of heart attcks after operations, but a new study, published in The Lancet, of more than 8000 patients in 23 countries who had surgery has found that those given the drugs double their risk of stroke and a third more likely to die within a month of surgery, the BBC reported.
The lead researcher said although beta blockers had benefits in lowering heart attacks, they were outweighed bythe increase of stroke and death. The study claimed that about 800,000 would have died as a result of doctors giving out the drugs without considering the side effects.
Source: "POISE Study Group. Effects of extended-release metoprolol succinate in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery (POISE trial): a randomized controlled trial". Lancet 2008. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08) 60601-7. Ahead of print.
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