@article {Kirwan196, author = {J F Kirwan and J A Nightingale and C Bunce and R Wormald}, title = {Do selective topical β antagonists for glaucoma have respiratory side effects?}, volume = {88}, number = {2}, pages = {196--198}, year = {2004}, doi = {10.1136/bjo.2003.017715}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group Ltd}, abstract = {Background/aims: Topical β antagonists are prescribed for glaucoma in approximately 500 000 people in the United Kingdom. The authors have previously shown that topical β antagonists are associated with an excess incidence of airways obstruction. They examined whether selective topical β antagonists are associated with excess airways obstruction. Methods: A historical cohort study was performed to determine the incidence of airways obstruction in subjects with no previous history of airways obstruction, following treatment with topical β antagonists for glaucoma for the period 1993{\textendash}7. Cases were defined as having received a first prescription of a drug specifically used in the management of airways obstruction. Results: For selective topical β antagonists 12 of 324 treated subjects developed airways obstruction, compared with 112 of 9094 controls (adjusted hazard rate 3.0 (95\% confidence interval (95\% CI) 1.6 to 5.4)). For non-selective topical β antagonists, the corresponding figures were 69 of 2321 subjects compared with the same control group (adjusted hazard rate 2.2 (1.6 to 3.0)). There was no significant difference between groups (p = 0.47, χ2), both being associated with a significantly increased risk of airways obstruction. Conclusion: Selective topical β antagonists do appear to have an excess risk of airways obstruction in this population setting and should be subject to the same prescribing caveats as unselective topical β antagonists.}, issn = {0007-1161}, URL = {https://bjo.bmj.com/content/88/2/196}, eprint = {https://bjo.bmj.com/content/88/2/196.full.pdf}, journal = {British Journal of Ophthalmology} }