Long‐Term Cardiovascular Effects of Metoprolol Therapy: A Review Article

Long-term studies in primary and secondary prevention using metoprolol have showed improvement in prognosis. This review summarizes the clinical results of such studies, and puts these results into the perspective of findings in mechanistic and explanatory studies. Many possible factors may have contributed to explain the beneficial effects on prognosis. The antihypertensive action, cardiac anti-ischemic action, antifibrillatory action, antiatherogenic and antithrombotic actions of metoprolol are discussed. The additive effects of these actions may explain the clinically observed beneficial effects. In the evaluation of a specific intervention, it is important to realize the multiple actions that may contribute, and not only discuss single factors.