Selective and Nonselective NSAIDs Are Associated with Excess Cardiovascular Risk

These drugs were risky in myocardial infarction patients and were associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation.

The cardiovascular risks of selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2–blocking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are well recognized (JW Gen Med Feb 25 2005). Current guidelines also discourage use of nonselective NSAIDs in patients with known cardiovascular disease (CVD), but some clinicians still prescribe these medications, because they believe that short-term use is unlikely to raise risk significantly. To address this issue, Danish investigators took advantage of that country's highly integrated and digitized medical databases, which accurately capture discharge diagnoses and pharmaceutical prescriptions for the entire country.

In a prospective observational study that involved 84,000 patients with first myocardial infarctions (MIs) …

Author

Anthony L. Komaroff, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardSerImmune Inc.; DxTerity

Grant / Research SupportNIH (1U54NS105542-01)

Editorial BoardsHarvard Health Letter; UpToDate

Anthony L. Komaroff, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardSerImmune Inc.; DxTerity

Grant / Research SupportNIH (1U54NS105542-01)

Editorial BoardsHarvard Health Letter; UpToDate