Reduction in mortality after myocardial infarction with long-term beta-adrenoceptor blockade. Multicentre international study: supplementary report.

In a controlled multicentre trial carried out to assess the value of long-term practolol treatment after myocardial infarction the provisional results showed a significant reduction in mortality, though some of the data were lacking. These have now been included and the results updated. The final figures for all deaths were 78 in the placebo group of 1533 patients and 48 in the practolol group of 1520 patients. The reduction in mortality (38%) was significant at the 1% level. The figures for non-fatal reinfarction (97 in the placebo group, and 75 in the practolol group) were not significantly different. Patients with pre-entry anterior infarction, and especially those with a diastolic blood pressure equal to or below the mean (78 mm Hg) at entry to the trial, were at high risk but benefited particularly well from beta-adrenoceptor blockade. After pre-entry inferior infarction the percentage reduction in deaths occurring within two hours after symptoms of a new event was similar to that after anterior infarction, but the incidence of death more than two hours after the event was greater in the practolol-treated group. Thus the difference between groups in total deaths after pretrial inferior infarction was marginal. Until the results of further trials are reported long-term beta-adrenoceptor blockade (possibly up to two years) is recommended after uncomplicated anterior myocardial infarction.