Atenolol

Metoprolol

(n=20,776)

(n=12,013)

Age (years)

£ 69

29

26

70 to 74

33

32

75 to 79

26

28

³ 80

11

14

Gender

female

53

48

male

47

52

Social status quintile†

lowest

20

20

next lowest

22

22

middle

20

19

next highest

17

17

highest

18

18

missing

4

4

Medication in prior year§

ACE inhibitor

33

32

allopurinol

7

7

antidepressant

10

9

benzodiazepine

21

21

bronchodilator

5

6

calcium channel blocker

27

28

digoxin

6

9

furosemide

8

9

glaucoma eye drops

6

7

glucocorticoid

4

4

gastric acid suppressor

23

25

insulin

2

3

levothyroxine

11

11

neuroleptic

2

2

oral anticoagulant

8

9

oral antiplatelet agent

1

2

oral hypoglycemic

9

12

statin

19

20

Surgery type

thoracic

2

2

abdominal

26

26

retroperitoneal

2

1

vascular

10

11

neurosurgical

2

2

external head and neck

3

3

unclassified¶

1

0

lower urologic or gynecologic

20

20

orthopedic

25

23

breast or skin

6

5

ophthalmologic

4

5