Survivors of a heart attack should be wary of such a popular group of painkillers as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Danish researchers in the Circulation magazine said this week. These medications can, in the long run, increase the risk of recurring heart attack and even death.
NSAIDs include over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen, as well as prescription celecoxib (Celebrex), which is used to treat arthritis, pain, menstrual cramps, and colon polyps.
Scientists from the University of Copenhagen argue that the increased risk may persist up to five years after a heart attack.
For research, scientists led by Anne-Marie Scherning-Olsen used the records of the Danish National Hospital. Case histories of nearly 100,000 people aged 30 years and older who suffered a first heart attack from 1997 to 2009 inclusive were studied. 44% of patients were prescribed at least one NSAID.
They then analyzed the mortality data to exclude other factors that influence the risk of further death or heart attack: other illnesses, drugs, age, gender, income, and year of hospitalization.
They found that taking NSAIDs increased the risk of death by 59% within one year after the first heart attack and by 63% within five years.
The study also found that the risk of recurring heart attack or death from coronary heart disease was 30% higher during the year after the first heart attack and 41% within five years.
Scherning-Olsen calls for a balanced approach in the appointment of NSAIDs and opposes their over-the-counter leave.
