Summary: A new Swedish study reveals that beta blockers, routinely prescribed after heart attacks, may trigger depression in patients with normal heart function. The research challenges decades of standard practice, suggesting thousands of patients might be taking these medications unnecessarily.
Journal: European Heart Journal, October 3, 2024, DOI: 10.1093/ehjacc/zuae112 | Reading time: 4 minutes
When Standard Treatment May Do More Harm Than Good
Imagine taking a medication that might not help your heart but could affect your mental health. This is the reality facing many heart attack survivors, according to new research from Uppsala University. The study questions the widespread use of beta blockers, medications that have been a cornerstone of heart attack treatment for decades.
“We found that beta blockers led to slightly higher levels of depression symptoms in patients who had had a heart attack but were not suffering from heart failure. At the same time, beta blockers have no life-sustaining function for this group of patients,” explains Philip Leissner, doctoral student in cardiac psychology and the study’s first author.
A Five-Year Journey to Understanding
The research team conducted their investigation from 2018 to 2023, following 806 heart attack survivors who maintained normal heart pumping function. In a carefully designed study, half the participants received beta blockers while the other half did not. The findings were clear: those taking beta blockers showed increased signs of depression.
This research builds upon an earlier 2024 Swedish study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which found that beta blockers offered no protection against future heart attacks or death in patients with normal heart function.
Numbers Tell the Story
The study revealed concerning statistics at its outset: 27% of participants showed possible signs of anxiety, while 14% displayed potential depression symptoms. Most notably, the approximately 100 patients who had been taking beta blockers before the study began showed more severe depression symptoms.
“Most doctors used to give beta blockers even to patients without heart failure, but as the evidence in favour of doing so is no longer so strong, this should be reconsidered,” Leissner notes. “We could see that some of these patients appear to be more at risk of depression. If the drug doesn’t make a difference to their heart, then they are taking it unnecessarily and at risk of becoming depressed.”
Looking Forward
These findings suggest a need to reassess the standard practice of prescribing beta blockers to all heart attack survivors. The research indicates that healthcare providers might need to consider more personalized approaches, particularly for patients whose hearts maintain normal pumping ability after a heart attack.
Glossary
• Beta blockers: Medications that block the effects of adrenaline on the heart
• Myocardial infarction: Medical term for a heart attack
• Left ventricular function: The heart’s ability to pump blood effectively
• Clinical trial: A research study that directly tests a medical intervention on people
Quiz
1. Which group of heart attack patients might not need beta blockers?
Answer: Patients with normal heart pumping function (without heart failure)
2. What mental health impact did researchers find associated with beta blockers?
Answer: Increased symptoms of depression
3. How many patients participated in the study?
Answer: 806 patients
4. What additional side effects have beta blockers been linked to besides depression?
Answer: Difficulty sleeping and nightmares
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