Elderly people adverse events

The respiratory and cardiovascular adverse effects of topical therapy with timolol or betaxolol have been studied in a randomized, controlled trial in 40 elderly patients with glaucoma (83). Five of the 20 allocated to timolol discontinued treatment for respiratory reasons, compared with three of the 20 patients allocated to betaxolol There were no significant differences in mean values of spirometry, pulse, or blood pressure between the groups. This study confirms that beta-blockers administered as eye-drops can reach the systemic circulation and that serious adverse respiratory events can occur in elderly people, even if they are screened before treatment for cardiac and respiratory disease. These events can occur using either the selective betaxolol agent or the non-selective timolol. 

In all the major adverse event studies for which it was possible to extract evidence regarding the elderly, there is incontrovertible evidence that elderly people experience... 

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