Painkillers linked to heart failure

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A study of medical records reveals that painkillers like ibuprofen increase the risk of hospital admission for heart failure.
Heart failure is a common and very disabling condition and anything increasing its risk is a cause for concern. Researchers in Madrid, Spain, have now uncovered a link between the use of painkillers and heart failure. They looked at data in the UK's General Practice Research Database for factors influencing the chance of being admitted to hospital with heart failure.

A previous diagnosis of heart failure, obesity, being a smoker and a history of specialist appointments were, not surprisingly, linked to an increased risk of being admitted for heart failure. Also, 14 per cent of patients admitted were taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) compared to just 10 per cent of a control group - a 30 per cent increase in risk. The NSAID indomethacin posed the greatest risk and osteoarthritis was the main reason for people taking NSAIDs.

The researchers say that the risk is small - it amounts to one extra first hospital admission for heart failure for every 1,000 people aged between 60 and 64 on NSAIDs. This would rise to three extra cases among those aged 70 or more with diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney failure. Given that heart disease is on the increase, even a small increase in risk could translate into a significant extra disease burden at a population level.

Source
Heart online 21st May 2006

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