Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to reduce pain.
They are some of the most popular drugs to manage pain in patients with osteoarthritis.
In a recent study from the University of British Columbia in Canada, researchers found that this type of drug contribute to heart problems in these patients.
This is the first longitudinal study to evaluate the role of NSAID use in the link between osteoarthritis and heart disease in a large patient group.
The study is published in Arthritis & Rheumatology. The lead author is Mohammad Atiquzzaman from the University of British Columbia.
Previous research has found that NSAIDs can help to control the pain and inflammation in individuals with osteoarthritis.
In this study, the team examined 7,743 patients with osteoarthritis and 23,229 people without that disease.
They found the risk of developing heart disease among people with osteoarthritis was 23% higher compared with people without the condition.
In addition, the risk of congestive heart failure was 42% higher among people with osteoarthritis compared with people without the condition.
These patients also had a 17% greater risk of ischemic heart disease and a 14% greater risk of stroke.
The results also showed about 41% of the increased risk of heart problems among people with osteoarthritis was linked to their NSAID use.
The finding suggest that osteoarthritis is a risk factor for heart disease and that a substantial proportion of the increased risk is due to the use of NSAIDs.
This is very important because NSAIDs The team suggests people with the condition to talk to their care providers and discuss the risks and benefits of NSAIDs.
Copyright © 2019 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
