TY  - JOUR
T1  - SHould β-blockers be used to treat hypertension in elderly patients?
AU  - Shaughnessy AF, Bucci KK
Y1  - 1999/06/02
N1  - 10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-281-21-jbk0602
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 1988
EP  - 1989
VL  - 281
IS  - 21
N2  - 
To the Editor: Readers of the recent Contempo
article on the treatment of hypertension1 may be misled by
the statement that the latest Joint National Committee on Prevention,
Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC VI)
recommendations2 no longer recommend β-blockers for older
people. In fact, the recommendations of the committee say the opposite:
"Thiazide diuretics or β-blockers in combination with thiazide
diuretics are recommended because they are effective in reducing
mortality and morbidity in older persons. . . "2 The recommendations outline a possible
advantage of diuretics over β-blockers but do not remove β-blockers
from their recommendations. Especially in light of recent
recommendations regarding the expanded use of β-blockers in the
treatment of heart failure and the emphasis on use following myocardial
infarction, this class of drugs remains a viable option for the
treatment of hypertension in older people.

SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-281-21-jbk0602
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-281-21-jbk0602
ER  -