Using beta blockers in people with multiple myeloma led to lower risk of disease-related and overall mortality in a retrospective study involving nearly 2,000 individuals.

Participants were newly diagnosed between 1995 and 2010. Investigators looked at use of beta blockers and other cardiac/antihypertensive medications, estimating 5-year disease-specific and overall survival rates. Among the results:

• Patients taking just beta-blockers reduced their disease-specific mortality odds by 47% compared with those who took no cardiac drugs; their odds were 51% lower than non-beta blocker cardiac drugs users.
• Patients taking both beta blockers and other cardiac drugs reduced their disease-specific mortality odds by 46% vs non-cardiac drugs users; their odds were 50% lower than non-beta blocker cardiac drug users.
• Disease-specific mortality did not differ between beta blocker users who took or did not take other cardiac drugs.
• The same patterns were seen when looking at overall survival.