Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

 • Myocardial infarction within 14 days according to the Universal ESC definition of MI: Detection of a rise and/or fall of cardiac biomarker values with at least one value above the 99th percentile upper reference limit and with at least one of the following:

  • Symptoms of ischemia

  • New or presumed new significant ST-segment–T wave changes or new left bundle branch block

  • Development of pathological Q waves in the ECG

  • Imaging evidence of new loss of viable myocardium or new regional wall motion abnormality

 • Age > 18 years

 • LVEF > 40% by any imaging technique during hospitalization

Exclusion criteria

 • Any condition that requires beta-blocker treatment according to the treating physician, including but not limited to:

  • Beta-blocker-treated arrhythmias

  • Beta-blocker-treated hypertension

  • Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction

  • Cardiomyopathies

 • Any condition in which beta-blocker treatment is contraindicated according to the treating physician, including but not limited to:

  • Hypotension

  • Brady-arrhythmias

  • Severe peripheral artery disease

  • History of not able to tolerate beta-blocker therapy

  • Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma

  • Severe valvular heart disease

  • Any condition (i.e., dementia) that could lead to increased risk for the patient when treated with beta-blockers

 • Clinical evidence of heart failure at the time of randomization

 • Lack of signed informed consent and expected cooperation during follow-up

 • Pregnancy or of child bearing age not using safe contraception throughout the study period