V. CLINICAL TRIALS
E. Implications
Beta-blockers and aspirin are proven by studies to prevent death from heart attack. About 450,000 heart attack patients survive to leave hospitals in the United States and Canada annually, and about 100,000 of these patients will have another heart attack in the following year. Beta-blockers can prevent a heart attack in approximately 20% (30,000) of these patients and prevent death in about 25%. Yet these cardioprotective drugs that can prolong life are not advocated and prescribed by many internists and family physicians because of the rare incidence of impotence and fatigue. Many practitioners continue to use newer agents, particularly, calcium antagonists, nitrates, and other agents that have not been shown to prolong life in randomized clinical trials.