Compared with first-line antihypertensives, beta-blockers (BB) have been reported to lower the central aortic blood pressure suboptimally and are associated with increased stroke risk. This observation has not been investigated in hypertensives of African ancestry. We hypothesised that an individual patient data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) on the efficacy of second- or third-generation beta-blockers (STGBBs) in hypertensives of African descent may provide new insights.
A single-stage IPD-MA analysed the efficacy of STGBB in lowering the mean arterial blood pressure and reducing the composite outcomes: cardiovascular death, stroke, and myocardial infarction.
A total of 11,860 participants from four randomised control trials were included in the analysis. Second- or third-generation beta-blockers reduced the mean arterial pressure by 1.75 mmHg [95% confidence interval (CI):1.16–2.33;
The STGBBs reduced the mean arterial pressure comparably to other antihypertensives, and they were not associated with an increased risk of stroke.