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Beta blocker prescribing differences in patients with and without diabetes following a first myocardial infarction
Author(s) -
Younis N.,
Burnham P.,
Patwala A.,
Weston P J.,
Vora J P.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-5491.2001.00418.x
Subject(s) - medicine , contraindication , diabetes mellitus , myocardial infarction , cardiology , surgery , endocrinology , alternative medicine , pathology
SUMMARYAims To document the prescribed usage of beta blockers in patients with and without diabetes mellitus discharged from hospital following a first myocardial infarction. Methods All patients with diabetes and a group of patients matched for age and sex without diabetes, admitted with a documented first myocardial infarction during the period 1995–1999 at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK were audited . Results Data were available on 201 patients with diabetes and 199 patients without diabetes . No significant differences existed between the diabetic and non‐diabetic groups for age and sex. Twenty‐three per cent of patients with diabetes were prescribed a beta blocker compared to 52% of non‐diabetic patients ( P < 0.01). Patients with diabetes had a higher frequency of perceived contraindications than patients without diabetes (36 vs. 27%, P < 0.001). Thirty‐five per cent of patients with diabetes and 18% of non‐diabetic patients had no contraindication to the use of beta blocker but were not prescribed one ( P < 0.001). Conclusions Although beta blockers can provide useful benefits in patients with diabetes following a myocardial infarction, this study suggests that a significant proportion of patients with diabetes and without a contraindication to treatment are still not receiving beta blockers after myocardial infarction.