Effect of beta-blocker therapy on recurrent nonfatal myocardial infarction.

Comparing the effects of long-term beta-blocker trials on nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) is difficult because of differences in diagnostic criteria and in methods of reporting and classifying events. Analysis of available data indicates that the relative effect of beta blockers on the incidence of nonfatal MI is not different among the reviewed long-term trials. Pooling of trial results indicates that beta-blocker therapy has a beneficial effect on nonfatal MI incidence that is of the same magnitude (25%) as that for all-cause mortality.