[The role of β-blockers in patients with metabolic syndrome and hypertension].

The choice of treatment of patients with hypertension should not be based solely on the blood pressure value, because the risk of cardiovascular diseases are influenced by the presence and magnitude of other risk factors, too. The presence of a metabolic disease (diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome) itself categorizes the patient as a high risk individual. In such cases the use of combined treatment is usually considered. For example, in case of hypertension aggravated by left ventricular dysfunction, ischaemic heart disease or cardiac insufficiency, β-blocker treatment is usually included in the combination of the first setting.