Kidney Function and Population-Based Outcomes of Initiating Oral Atenolol Versus Metoprolol Tartrate in Older Adults

• Published in: American journal of kidney diseases Vol. 64; no. 6; pp. 883 - 891
• Main Authors: Fleet, Jamie L., Weir, Matthew A., McArthur, Eric, Ozair, Sundus, Devereaux, Philip J., Roberts, Matthew A., Jain, Arsh K., Garg, Amit X.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.12.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists - administration & dosage; adverse events; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Atenolol; Atenolol - administration & dosage; beta-blocker; Biological and medical sciences; bradycardia; Cardiac dysrhythmias; Cardiology. Vascular system; chronic kidney disease (CKD); Cohort Studies; drug safety; elderly; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart; Humans; hypotension; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - physiology; Kidneys; Male; Medical sciences; Metoprolol - administration & dosage; metoprolol tartrate; Nephrology; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; older adults; Population Surveillance - methods; renal function; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - drug therapy; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - epidemiology; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - physiopathology; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Urinary system involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous; hypotension; beta-blocker; elderly; drug safety; older adults; renal function; adverse events; Atenolol; chronic kidney disease (CKD); bradycardia; metoprolol tartrate; Nephrology; Renal function; Prognosis; Arrhythmia; Toxicity; Cardiovascular disease; Urology; Beta; Tartrate; β1-Adrenergic receptor; Heart disease; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Secondary effect; Adult; Population; Antagonist; Age; Kidney disease; Human; Drug; Urinary system disease; Metoprolol; Oral administration; Chronic kidney disease; Antiarrhythmic agent; Excitability disorder; Chenopodiaceae; Bradycardia; Arterial hypotension; Renal failure; Antihypertensive agent; Spermatophyta; Elderly; Comparative study; Beta blocking agent
• ISSN: 0272-6386; 1523-6838; 1523-6838
• DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2014.06.009

Atenolol and metoprolol tartrate are commonly prescribed β-blockers. Atenolol elimination depends on kidney function, whereas metoprolol tartrate does not. We hypothesized that compared to metoprolol tartrate, initiating oral atenolol treatment would be associated with more adverse events in older adults, with the association most pronounced in patients with lower baseline estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs). Population-based matched retrospective cohort study. Older adults (mean age, 75 years) in Ontario, Canada, prescribed oral atenolol versus metoprolol tartrate from April 2002 through December 2011. The 2 groups were well matched (n=75,257 in each group), with no difference in 31 measured baseline characteristics. Patients with end-stage renal disease were ineligible, and 4.6% of patients had chronic kidney disease (median eGFR, 38mL/min/1.73m2 assessed through a database algorithm). β-Blocker type and eGFR. A composite outcome of hospitalization with bradycardia or hypotension and all-cause mortality were assessed in 90-day follow-up. Compared to metoprolol tartrate, initiating atenolol treatment was not associated with higher risk of hospitalization with bradycardia or hypotension (incidence, 0.71% vs 0.79%; relative risk, 0.90; 95%CI, 0.80-1.01). Atenolol treatment initiation was associated with lower 90-day risk of mortality than metoprolol tartrate (incidence, 0.97% vs 1.44%; relative risk, 0.68; 95%CI, 0.61-0.74). Lower eGFR did not modify either association (P for interaction=0.5 and 0.6, respectively). Heart rate and blood pressure were not available in our data sources, and effects ascertained from observational studies are subject to residual confounding. Contrary to our expectation, we found that atenolol versus metoprolol tartrate was associated with lower 90-day risk of mortality in patients regardless of eGFR, with no difference in risk of hospitalization with bradycardia or hypotension.