Characteristics of the studies using beta-blockers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular comorbidities
| First author [ref.] | Year | Design | Population | Safety outcome |
| Salpeter [15] | 2005 | Review of data from 22 randomised, blinded controlled trials | 1567 patients with COPD | No adverse effect of cardioselective beta-blockers on lung function or respiratory symptoms compared to placebo |
| Short [16] | 2011 | Retrospective cohort study using a disease-specific database of COPD patients (TARDIS) | 5977 patients aged >50 years with COPD | Reductions in mortality, exacerbations and hospital admissions; additive benefits with inhaled therapy; 88% of beta-blockers used were cardioselective |
| Etminan [14] | 2012 | Systematic review and meta-analysis of nine retrospective cohort studies | 99 877 patients with COPD | Protective effect of beta-blockers (selective and non-selective) with respect to all-cause mortality |
| Stefan [2] | 2012 | Retrospective cohort study | 35 082 patients aged >40 years with COPD and coexistent ischaemic heart disease, chronic heart failure or hypertension | β1-selective beta-blocker therapy among chronic users appears to be safe during a hospitalisation for acute COPD exacerbation; β1-selective beta-blockers are superior to non-selective beta-blockers in this category of patients |
| Zeng [17] | 2013 | Retrospective cohort study | 220 elderly male COPD patients (mean±sd age 84.1±6.9 years) | No association between the use of β2-agonists, beta-blockers or beta-blocker/β2-agonist combination therapy with cardiac function and all-cause mortality in elderly male COPD patients |
TARDIS: Tayside Allergy and Respiratory Disease Information System.