KIPULÄÄKKEET/SYDÄNKOHTAUS

[Bb]

Lähettäjä: Soijuv Lähetetty: 23.5.2006 12:07

Heart 2006: Yleisimmät kipulääkkeet lisäävät sydänkohtausten vaaraa (ibuprofeeni, aspiriini jne).


Common painkillers increase heart failure risk

22 May 2006

Heart 2006: Not yet available online

Widely used painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

(NSAIDs), which include aspirin and ibuprofen, are associated with an

increased risk of being admitted to hospital due to heart failure, during

which the heart is not able to pump enough blood to the body's other organs,

investigators have found.

Dr Consuelo Huerta, from the Spanish Center for Pharmacoepidemiologic

Research in Madrid, Spain, and team explored the use of painkillers in 1396

patients who were admitted to hospital for heart failure between 1997 and

2000, compared with that in 5000 patients who were admitted to hospital for

other reasons.

The researchers found that 14% of patients with heart failure were taking

NSAIDs at the time of hospital admission compared with 10% of the other

patients.

The condition osteoarthritis a form of arthritis involving the

deterioration of the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones was the

most common reason for taking NSAIDs.

Dr Huerta and colleagues therefore calculated that for every 1000 people

aged between 60 and 84 years who are admitted to hospital with heart

failure, taking NSAIDs would increase the number of cases by one, compared

with not taking such drugs.

They added that, although this increase is small, it could rise to three

additional cases among patients aged 70 years and older with conditions such

as diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney failure.

The researchers conclude: "Heart failure is a common cause of morbidity

[illness] and mortality in the elderly and even a small increase in the risk

can translate into a significant disease burden in the general population.

"Therefore, NSAIDs should be used with caution by patients at high risk of

hospital admission due to heart failure such as those with prior clinical

heart failure, diabetes, renal failure or treatment with hypertension

drugs."