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SOURCE: Zhang H, et al. Efficacy of long-term ß-blocker therapy for secondary prevention of long-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Circulation 2015;131:2194-2201.
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Pre-operative beta-blocker therapy is a performance measure for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). However, the value of continuing beta-blocker prophylactically post-CABG is unclear. Thus, investigators from Beijing analyzed the use of beta-blockers after isolated CABG and long-term adverse events at one hospital. Patients who had contraindications to beta-blockers were excluded. The 5926 patients who had isolated CABG between 2004 and 2008 were divided into those with and without prior myocardial infarction (MI). Also, they were categorized after at least two follow-up visits in the first year as: always on beta-blockers, never taking, and inconsistent users. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcome was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). A prior MI was present in 42% and they had a higher risk clinical...