Samsung Medical Center has developed criteria for determining when patients who have survived a heart attack can safely stop taking beta-blockers, according to a report by DongA Science published on August 31, 2026.
The new framework addresses a long-standing question in cardiology: whether patients with myocardial infarction must remain on beta-blockers for life, or whether the medication can be withdrawn once their condition has stabilized. DongA Science reports that the hospital's criteria focus on identifying patients in a stable phase who may no longer need the drug.
Beta-blockers are commonly prescribed after a heart attack to reduce the heart's workload and lower the risk of further cardiac events. For years, the standard approach has been for patients to continue taking them indefinitely. The development at Samsung Medical Center suggests that, for at least some patients, long-term use may not be necessary.
The report has drawn attention from multiple South Korean outlets, including Newsis, Health Chosun, and Money Today, which have all covered the possibility of discontinuing the medication during a stable period. The coverage indicates growing interest in more individualized treatment plans that avoid unnecessary lifelong medication.
The exact clinical criteria established by Samsung Medical Center have not been detailed in the available reporting. What is clear is that the hospital has moved toward a more nuanced approach, distinguishing between patients who require ongoing beta-blocker therapy and those who may be able to stop.
Observers will likely watch for further publication of the underlying data or official guidelines from the hospital, which could influence broader clinical practice in South Korea and beyond.
