Effect of propranolol on mortality in patients with angina.

Two hundred and seventeen patients from general practice suffering from angina pectoris were studied over a three year period; 91 patients had beta-blocker treatment, the other 126 did not. The two groups were comparable for age, sex, blood pressure and length of history of angina. The frequency of infarction and mortality from infarction in the two groups was compared. The annual infarct rate in the 126 patients not treated with beta-blockers is shown to be more than three times the rate in the 91 patients treated by beta-blockers. The annual death rate from myocardial infarction is almost four times greater in the group not treated by beta-blockers compared with the beta-blocked group. It is concluded that this provides further evidence that treatment which includes beta-blockade in patients suffering from ischamic heart disease reduces the risk of myocardial infarction and death.