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 .
Characteristics of 9194 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy: the LIFE study. Losartan Intervention For Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension.
-Losartan was the first available orally administered selective antagonist of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor developed for the treatment of hypertension . The Losartan Intervention For Endpoint ( LIFE ) Reduction in Hypertension Study is a double-blind , prospect i ve , parallel group study design ed to compare the effects of losartan with those of the beta-blocker atenolol on the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality .  Patients with essential hypertension , aged between 55 and 80 years , and ECG-documented left ventricular hypertrophy ( LVH ) were included . Altogether , 9223 patients in Sc and inavia , the United Kingdom , and the United States were r and omized from June 1995 through April 1997 , and 9194 remain after exclusion of a study center at which irregularities were discovered . This population of hypertensives ( mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure , 174.4/97.8 mm Hg ) with LVH comprises women ( 54.1 % ) and men , mostly retired from active work ( mean age , 66.9 years ) , with a high prevalence of overweight ( mean body mass index , 28.0 kg/m2 ) , diabetes mellitus ( 12.3 % ) , lipid disorders ( 18.0 % ) , and symptoms or signs of coronary heart disease ( 15.1 % ) . There were fewer current smokers  ( < 17 % ) than in the general population , and approximately 7 % were nonwhite . Almost 30 % of participants had been untreated for at least 6 months when screened for the study . Only 1557 persons who entered the placebo run-in period of 14 days were excluded , predominantly because of sitting blood pressures above or below the predetermined range of 160 - 200/95 - 115 mm Hg and ECG-LVH criteria not met . By application of simple 12-lead ECG criteria for LVH ( Cornell voltage QRS duration product formula plus Sokolow-Lyon voltage read by a core laboratory ) , hypertensive patients with LVH with an average 5-year coronary heart disease risk of 22.3 % according to the Framingham score were identified . This population is now being treated ( goal , < 140/90 mm Hg ) in adherence with the protocol for at least 4 years after final enrollment ( ie , through April 2001 ) and until at least 1040 patients suffer myocardial infa rct ion , stroke , or cardiovascular death
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 .