Beta-blockers are poorly tolerated by the elderly: myth or reality?

beta-blocker therapy can reduce mortality and risk of major cardiovascular events in older patients. Even though ss-blockers can provide benefits nearly equal to those experienced by younger patients, the drugs remain underutilized by the elderly. Consequently, underuse contributes to higher mortality and hospitalization rates among these patients. This derives, in part, from many factors that include physiologic changes accompanying aging, presence of comorbid diseases, use of multiple medications, issues of drug tolerability, and poor patient compliance; however, education can overcome some of these to facilitate more widespread use among elderly patients.