Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology (Dec 2017)

Use of beta-blockers and risk of serious upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a population-based case-control study

  • Mette Reilev,
  • Per Damkier,
  • Lotte Rasmussen,
  • Morten Olesen,
  • Martin Thomsen Ernst,
  • Rikke Mie Rishøj,
  • Morten Rix Hansen,
  • Anne Broe,
  • Alexander Steenberg Dastrup,
  • Maja Hellfritzsch,
  • Sidsel Arnspang,
  • Anton Pottegård,
  • Jesper Hallas

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/1756283X17734116
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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Background: Some studies indicate a reduced risk of serious upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) for users of beta-blockers, but the association remains to be confirmed in larger studies and characterized with respect to differences among beta-blockers. We aimed to assess whether beta-blocker use decreases the risk of UGIB. Methods: We conducted a register-based, population-based case-control study in Denmark. We identified cases with a first validated discharge diagnosis of UGIB during the period 1995–2006. Controls were selected by risk-set sampling in a ratio of 10:1. We estimated crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of the association between current beta-blocker use and the risk of UGIB by using conditional logistic regression and further stratified by selective and non-selective beta-blockers, respectively. Results: We identified 3571 UGIB cases and 35,582 controls. Use of beta-blockers was not found to be associated with a decreased risk of UGIB (adjusted OR 1.10; 95% CI: 1.00–1.21). The association remained neutral after stratification by selective and non-selective beta-blockers, and by single beta-blocker substances. Similarly, we found no association between current beta-blocker use and the risk of UGIB within different subgroups. Conclusions: We found no association between beta-blocker use and UGIB.