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. 2001 Sep;52(3):313–318. doi: 10.1046/j.0306-5251.2001.01442.x

Table 4.

Number of deaths from suicide and associated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) in current and former users of β-adrenoceptor blockers only, by degree of lipid solubility of the drug.

β-adrenoceptor blockers only
Present and former use Present use Former use
Degree of lipid solubility Number observed Number expected SMR (95% CI) Number observed SMR (95% CI) Number observed SMR (95% CI)
Low* 7 7.8 0.9 (0.4, 1.9) 4 0.6 (0.2, 1.6) 3 2.0 (0.4, 5.7)
Medium1 11 7.1 1.6 (0.8, 2.8) 8 1.4 (0.6, 2.7) 3 2.3 (0.5, 67)
High2 22 8.0 2.7 (1.7, 4.1) 12 2.2 (1.1, 3.9) 10 3.8 (1.8, 7.0)
Chi square test for trend, P value: 0.04 0.06 0.62
*

Low group: atenolol; sotalol.

1

Medium group: metoprolol; pindolol; acebutolol; oxprenolol; timolol; Viskaldix; bisprolol; bevantolol.

2

High group: propranolol; betaxolol; alprenolol; penbutolol.

Person-years at risk among present users were categorized according to the type of β-adrenoceptor blocker prescribed, and those among former users in accordance with the type of the last β-adrenoceptor blocker prescribed.