Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

First Advisor

Russ Kauffman

Keywords

Supraventricular Tachycardia, Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers

Abstract

Supraventricular tachycardia is the most common cardiac arrythmia characterized by a rapid heart rate originating at or above the atrioventricular node. The current guidelines recommend using beta blockers or calcium channel blockers as first line pharmacologic rate control in hemodynamically stable patients. The purpose of this literature review is to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of beta blockers versus calcium channel blockers in patients presenting with or at risk of developing supraventricular tachycardia. A literature search with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed and Embase, resulting in eight studies for review. The findings of this literature review suggest that both beta blockers and calcium channel blockers may be effective for the treatment and prophylaxis of supraventricular tachycardia. With conflicting results between studies, there cannot be a definitive conclusion that beta blockers are more effective than calcium channel blockers. To gain more insight, future research should focus on directly comparing beta blockers to calcium channel blockers in patients with or at risk of supraventricular tachycardia. This literature review reveals a gap in evidence-based practice for primary care clinicians; thus it ls important for a clinician to continue to follow the current recommended guidelines, have awareness of their own prescriptive biases, and prioritize individualized treatment plans when choosing a medication for the management of supraventricular tachycardia.

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