Pharmacological differences between beta-blockers and postoperative mortality following colon cancer surgery

β-blocker therapy has been positively associated with improved survival in patients undergoing oncologic colorectal resection. This study investigates if the type of β-blocker used affects 90-day postoperative mortality following colon cancer surgery. The study was designed as a nationwide retrospective cohort study including all adult (≥ 18 years old) patients with ongoing β-blocker therapy who underwent elective and emergency colon cancer surgery in Sweden between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2017. Patients were divided into four cohorts: metoprolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, and other beta-blockers. The primary outcome of interest was 90-day postoperative mortality. A Poisson regression model with robust standard errors was used, while adjusting for all clinically relevant variables, to determine the association between different β-blockers and 90-day postoperative mortality. A total of 9254 patients were included in the study. There was no clinically significant difference in crude 90-day postoperative mortality rate [n (%)] when comparing the four beta-blocker cohorts metoprolol, atenolol, bisoprolol and other beta-blockers. [97 (1.8%) vs. 28 (2.0%) vs. 29 (1.7%) vs. 11 (1.2%), p = 0.670]. This remained unchanged when adjusting for relevant covariates in the Poisson regression model. Compared to metoprolol, there was no statistically significant decrease in the risk of 90-day postoperative mortality with atenolol [adj. IRR (95% CI): 1.45 (0.89–2.37), p = 0.132], bisoprolol [adj. IRR (95% CI): 1.45 (0.89–2.37), p = 0.132], or other beta-blockers [adj. IRR (95% CI): 0.92 (0.46–1.85), p = 0.825]. In patients undergoing colon cancer surgery, the risk of 90-day postoperative mortality does not differ between the investigated types of β-adrenergic blocking agents.