Atenolol  was the beta‐blocker most used .
Current evidence suggests that initiating treatment of hypertension with beta‐blockers leads to modest CVD reductions and little or no effects on mortality .
These beta‐blocker effects are inferior to those of other antihypertensive drugs .
Abstract Background Beta‐blockers refer to a mixed group of drugs with diverse pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties .
They have shown long‐term beneficial effects on mortality and cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) when used in people with heart failure or acute myocardial infa rct ion .
Beta‐blockers were thought to have similar beneficial effects when used as first‐line therapy for hypertension .
However , the benefit of beta‐blockers as first‐line therapy for hypertension without compelling indications is controversial .
This review is an up date of a Cochrane Review initially published in 2007 and up date d in 2012 .
Objectives To assess the effects of beta‐blockers on morbidity and mortality endpoints in adults with hypertension .
Prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in hypertension: preliminary baseline data from the European Lacidipine Study on Atheroscelerosis (ELSA).
In the ELSA trial , the effects of lacidipine-based treatment and beta-blocker (atenolol)-based treatment on the development and progression of carotid wall alterations are assessed in hypertensive patients . The primary endpoint of this study is the rate of change in the intima-media thickness of the carotid artery wall , measured with B-mode ultrasound . About 2300 hypertensive patients have been recruited and r and omized to either of the antihypertensive agents . Baseline data for 1965 patients are available , showing a high prevalence of carotid wall lesions : about 82 % of the subjects have an intima-media thickness > or = 1.3 mm , defined as plaque in the ELSA protocol ; 16 % of the subjects have intima-media thickening ( > or = 1.0 mm , < 1.3 mm ) and only about 1 % have normal carotid artery walls . Analysis of demographic data and risk factor prevalence in ELSA patients , and comparison of these preliminary observations with data from other intervention or observational studies indicate that high blood pressure is a very important risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis
Atenolol  was the beta‐blocker most used .
Current evidence suggests that initiating treatment of hypertension with beta‐blockers leads to modest CVD reductions and little or no effects on mortality .
These beta‐blocker effects are inferior to those of other antihypertensive drugs .
Abstract Background Beta‐blockers refer to a mixed group of drugs with diverse pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties .
They have shown long‐term beneficial effects on mortality and cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) when used in people with heart failure or acute myocardial infa rct ion .
Beta‐blockers were thought to have similar beneficial effects when used as first‐line therapy for hypertension .
However , the benefit of beta‐blockers as first‐line therapy for hypertension without compelling indications is controversial .
This review is an up date of a Cochrane Review initially published in 2007 and up date d in 2012 .
Objectives To assess the effects of beta‐blockers on morbidity and mortality endpoints in adults with hypertension .