Presentation description

According to current American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines beta-blockers should only be taken if the individual has one or more compelling indication, or a comorbidity such as aortic aneurysm/disease, angina, atrial fibrillation or arrhythmia, chronic liver disease or cirrhosis, heart failure, myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, prior coronary revascularization, or stroke. The guidelines have remained unchanged since 2017 as a reflection of the research that indicates beta-blockers are more effective for treating the listed specific comorbidities but do not prevent strokes as effectively as other classes of medication. And thus having, beta-blockers listed as a second-line treatment for uncomplicated essential hypertension.

In the past guidelines recommended beta blockers as a first line treatment, which prompts researchers to wonder if the trends in beta blocker initiation have changed in correlation with those guidelines changes. This study aims to identify patient, prescriber, and facility-level factors influencing the initiation of beta-blockers.

Using the US Veteran hypertension database, which provides comprehensive nationwide data, this research examines the prevalence of compelling indications for beta-blocker treatment among individuals.
This research is crucial in order to determine the factors associated with beta-blocker initiation and ensure patients receive the best possible care based on the latest medical evidence.