For other outcomes analysed ( major vascular events , death from all causes , death from cardiovascular causes ) , we observed no significant differences between the groups .
There were minor blood pressure reductions in the intervention group .
To date , no available evidence supports the routine use of beta-blockers for secondary prevention after stroke or TIA .
BACKGROUND Stroke affects 15 million people per year worldwide .
Despite recent developments in acute stroke treatment , prevention remains very important .
Stroke has a high rate of recurrence ; therefore secondary prevention is also important .
Many clinical approaches to control risk factors have been proposed .
One of these approaches is the prescription of beta-blockers that have effects beyond the reduction of blood pressure , which can reduce the recurrence of stroke .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of beta-blockers for preventing stroke recurrence and for reducing death and major vascular events in people with a previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack ( TIA ) , and to determine their safety , particularly with regard to the development of diabetes mellitus .
Randomised trial of treatment of hypertension in elderly patients in primary care.
A r and omised trial of the treatment of hypertension in 884 patients aged 60 to 79 years at the onset showed a reduction of 18/11 mm Hg in blood pressure over a mean follow up period of 4.4 years . The principal antihypertensive agents were atenolol and bendrofluazide . There was a reduction in the rate of fatal stroke in the treatment group to 30 % of that in the control group ( 95 % confidence interval 11 - 84 % , p less than 0.025 ) . The rate of all strokes ( fatal and non-fatal ) in the treatment group was 58 % of that in the control group ( 95 % confidence interval 35 - 96 % , p less than 0.03 ) . The incidence of myocardial infa rct ion and total mortality was unaffected by treatment . Question naires completed by the patients and their relatives failed to identify any differences in symptoms that were likely to be due to treatment
For other outcomes analysed ( major vascular events , death from all causes , death from cardiovascular causes ) , we observed no significant differences between the groups .
There were minor blood pressure reductions in the intervention group .
To date , no available evidence supports the routine use of beta-blockers for secondary prevention after stroke or TIA .
BACKGROUND Stroke affects 15 million people per year worldwide .
Despite recent developments in acute stroke treatment , prevention remains very important .
Stroke has a high rate of recurrence ; therefore secondary prevention is also important .
Many clinical approaches to control risk factors have been proposed .
One of these approaches is the prescription of beta-blockers that have effects beyond the reduction of blood pressure , which can reduce the recurrence of stroke .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of beta-blockers for preventing stroke recurrence and for reducing death and major vascular events in people with a previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack ( TIA ) , and to determine their safety , particularly with regard to the development of diabetes mellitus .