Use of beta blockers in patients with reactive airway disease and concomitant hypertension or ischemic heart disease

Beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists can be safely prescribed and decreases mortality in patients with ischemic heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors. Some authors are of the opinion that there is underuse of beta blockers in this subgroup of patients. The objective of this study was to analyse drugs being prescribed and the effect beta blockers have on symptoms in asthmatics with concomitant reactive airway diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Data was collected from medical records of patients with reactive airway disease and concomitant hypertension and ischemic heart disease. It included demographic details of the patients, the clinical diagnosis, drugs prescribed and the patient outcome regarding whether there was exacerbation of asthma symptoms on taking beta blockers. Medical records of 250 patients were analysed.13% of all patients was prescribed beta blockers. Among hypertensive's 12%, among patients with ischemic heart disease 16.6% and of patients with IHD and hypertension, 20% were prescribed beta blockers. Of the 33 (13%) patients who were on beta blockers, only 3 patients had exacerbation of bronchial asthma symptoms. Prescribing cardioselective beta blockers under supervision appear to be safe in patients with reactive airway disease and concomitant hypertension and ischemic heart disease.