The effects of beta blockers on exercise capacity and on training response in elderly subjects.

Treatment of 8 hypertensive elderly subjects with atenolol or with labetalol did not affect exercise performance, except after the development of circulatory congestion in 1 patient. Treatment with beta blockers did not alter the response to an exercise training programme in 15 elderly patients with ischaemic heart disease, as compared with 11 patients without such treatment.