Oral β-Blocker Therapy in Acute Myocardial Infarction

The Use of Beta Blockers in Takotsubo Syndrome as Compared to Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients have a similar mortality rate. In this study, we sought to determine the short- and long-term outcome of TTS patients as compared to ACS patients both treated with beta-blockers.

OBJECTIVES

In the present study we described the data of 5 years of follow up of 103 TTS and 422 ACS patients both treated with beta-blockers.

METHODS

Data from TTS patients were included retrospectively and prospectively, ACS patients were included retrospectively. All retrospectively included patients have been followed up for 5 years. The end point in this study was the occurrence of death.

RESULTS

TTS affected significantly more women (87.4%) than ACS (34.6%) (p < 0.01). TTS patients suffered significantly more often from thromboembolic events (14.6% versus 2.1%; p < 0.01) and cardiogenic shock (11.9% versus 3.6%; p < 0.01) than the ACS group. TTS patients had a significantly higher long-term mortality (within 5 years) as compared to ACS patients (17.5% versus 3.6%) (p < 0.01). Patients of the TTS group compared to the ACS group did not benefit from combination of beta-blockers and ACE-inhibitors in terms of long-term mortality (p < 0.01). As we compare TTS patients who were treated with beta-blockers and ACE-inhibitors versus single use of beta-blockers there was no difference in long-term mortality (p = 0.918).

CONCLUSION

TTS patients had a significantly higher long-term mortality (within 5 years) than patients with an ACS.