Early intravenous beta-blockers in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A patient-pooled meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Niels P. G. Hoedemaker, Vincent Roolvink, Robbert J. de Winter, Niels van Royen, Valentin Fuster, Jose M. Garcia-Ruiz, Fikret Er, Natig Gassanov, Kenji Hanada, Ken Okumura, Borja Ibanez, Arnoud W. van 't Hof, Peter Damman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Conflicting evidence is available on the efficacy and safety of early intravenous beta-blockers before primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. We performed a patient-pooled meta-analysis of trials comparing early intravenous beta-blockers with placebo or routine care in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and safety outcomes of intravenous beta-blockers in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: Four randomized trials with a total of 1150 patients were included. The main outcome was one-year death or myocardial infarction. Secondary outcomes included biomarker-based infarct size, left ventricular ejection fraction during follow-up, ventricular tachycardia, and a composite safety outcome (cardiogenic shock, symptomatic bradycardia, or hypotension) during hospitalization. Results: One-year death or myocardial infarction was similar among beta-blocker (4.2%) and control patients (4.4%) (hazard ratio: 0.96 (95% confidence interval: 0.53-1.75, p=0.90, I-2=0%). No difference was observed in biomarker-based infarct size. One-month left ventricular ejection fraction was similar, but left ventricular ejection fraction at six months was significantly higher in patients treated with early intravenous beta-blockade (52.8% versus 50.0% in the control group, p=0.03). No difference was observed in the composite safety outcome or ventricular tachycardia during hospitalization.

Conclusion: In ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, the administration of early intravenous beta-blockers was safe. However, there was no difference in the main outcome of one-year death or myocardial infarction with early intravenous beta-blockers. A larger clinical trial is warranted to confirm the definitive efficacy of early intravenous beta-blockers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)469-477
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care
Volume9
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2020

Keywords

  • ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
  • primary percutaneous coronary intervention
  • intravenous beta-blockers
  • beta-blockers
  • outcomes
  • EARLY METOPROLOL
  • SIZE

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