Beta‐blockade after myocardial infarction‐a statistical view.

During the past year several trials have been published which have increased the evidence in favour of a beneficial effect of treatment with a 1- adrenergic blocking agent on mortality after myocardial infarction (Norwegian Multicentre Study Group, 1981; Hjalmarson et al., 1981; Beta- blocker Heart Attack Study Group, 1981; Hansteen et al., 1982). There are, however, such wide differences between the results obtained in the many trials published in the last 15 years or so that clinical interpretation of all the available information is difficult. Clinical reviews have been conducted in the past (Baber 1981; Baber, 1981; Hampton, 1981; Vedin & Wilhelmsson, 1979) using some statistical methods. This paper attempts to clarify the present state of knowledge by using statistical techniques more fully.