Even Short-Term NSAID Use Associated with Cardiovascular Events

Registry data show adverse effects of both selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and nonselective agents within the first week of treatment.

Since 2007, practice guidelines have advised clinicians about the risks of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use in patients with known cardiovascular disease or at high risk for ischemic heart disease. However, whether short-term NSAID use (e.g., for less than a week) can worsen outcomes in such patients is unclear. Therefore, investigators used data from the Danish National Patient Registry to assess the impact of NSAID use in >83,000 patients (mean age, 68; 63% men) after hospitalization for first myocardial infarction (MI) from 1997 through 2006.

More than 42% of the cohort received prescriptions for NSAIDs including ibuprofen (23%), diclofenac (13%), rofecoxib (5%), celecoxib (5%), and naproxen (2%). During follow-up, the prim…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

Even Short-Term NSAID Use Associated with Cardiovascular Events

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Reviewing Author