Topical beta  blockers may cause new airways obstruction

In elderly patients without respiratory disease, topical beta  blockers used for glaucoma may induce new cases of airway obstruction requiring treatment. Topical beta  blockers are known to exacerbate existing airways disease, but Kirwan et al (p 1396) used the Mediplus database to compare patients with no diagnosis of airways obstruction who were given topical beta  blockers for the first time with controls not given beta  blockers. Among 2645 exposed patients the adjusted hazard ratio for developing airways obstruction at 12 months after the start of treatment was 2.29 (1.71 to 3.07)---a number needed to harm of 55 patients.


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Relevant Article

beta Blockers for glaucoma and excess risk of airways obstruction: population based cohort study
James F Kirwan, Julia A Nightingale, Catey Bunce, and Richard Wormald
BMJ 2002 325: 1396-1397. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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