Commentary: All members of β-blocker house on probation!

Reply from the authors: Big data and beta blockers: The best of times, the worst of times

“…As all commentators and our limitations section note, the beta-blocker type, dose, and duration were not avilable. [2][3][4][5][6][7] As Mazzeffi and colleagues 4 correctly point out, there is large variability in beta selectivity among the different agents. We can only make assumptions, and a reasonable one would be that prescribing practices mirror the general population, for whom the majority receive nonselective agents.…”

“…The next concern is whether the beta-blocker cohort is simply a sicker group of patients with expected greater rates of complications. 2,3,6,7 The propensity matching was able to define a remarkably homogenous and similar group of patients. The STS-predicted risk of mortality was exactly 2.1% in both matched groups.…”