Popular Painkillers Linked To Hospital Admissions For Heart Failure

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Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Arthritis
Article Date: 22 May 2006 - 11:00 PDT

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A British study has shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs raise older patients' risk of a first hospital admission for heart failure by 30%. The study looked at people aged 60-84.

Popular painkillers, such as Nurofen and Voltaren are NSAIDs. This is the third study in less than one year that links NSAIDs to heart risks.

The study found, predictably, that those who had a history of heart failure, obesity, smoking, recent specialist appointments and recent hospital stays, had a higher risk of being admitted to hospital for heart failure for the first time.

You can read about this study in the journal Heart.

The study also found, however, that 14% of those being admitted for heart failure were at the time taking NSAIDs. This compares to 10% of people who would normally be taking an NSAID for that age group.

Older patients who take indomethacin (indocin), a NSAID, are three times as likely to be admitted to hospital for heart failure for the first time.

NSAIDs are most commonly taken by patients with osteoarthritis.

What does this mean in numbers of patients being admitted into hospital? For the 60-84 age group, for every 1000 people taking NSAIDs, it means one extra hospital admission for heart failure. For those over 70 taking NSAIDs, if they have diabetes or hypertension, it could mean an extra three per thousand.

The researchers said that even a small increase in risk can mean an important increase in the workload for public health services.

Their conclusion was that not only do NSAIDs raise the risk for patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, but also people without any history of heart disease.

Many health experts wonder whether NSAIDs should be available so readily in supermarkets.

The FDA is currently reviewing NSAIDs.

With Cox-2 inhibitors, such as Vioxx, taken off the market, patients suffering from osteoarthritis and in need of painkillers will be concerned at these latest findings.

Web site with information on NSAIDs

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today


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