Researchers from University of British Columbia, Canada, have discovered that pain medications are linked to higher cardiovascular risks in patients with osteoarthritis.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help to control the pain and inflammation in individuals with osteoarthritis (OA), but a new arthritis & rheumatology study suggests that NSAIDs contribute to cardiovascular side effects in these patients, therefore suggesting a higher chance of cardiovascular risks occurring.
Details of the study
The study matched 7,743 osteoarthritis patients with 23,229 non- osteoarthritis controls. The risk of developing cardiovascular disease among people with osteoarthritis was 23% higher compared with people without osteoarthritis.
Among secondary outcomes assessed in the study, the risk of congestive heart failure was 42% higher among people with OA compared with people without OA, followed by a 17% greater risk of ischemic heart disease and a 14% greater risk of stroke.
Investigators discovered that approximately 41% of the increased risk of cardiovascular disease among people with OA was mediated through their NSAID use. NSAIDs also played a substantial role in developing the study’s secondary outcomes.
Cardiovascular risks
Senior study author Aslam Anis, PhD, of the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, explains: “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study to evaluate the mediating role of NSAID use in the relationship between osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease in a large population based sample.”
“Our results indicate that osteoarthritis is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and suggest a substantial proportion of the increased risk is due to the use of NSAIDs.
“This is highly relevant because NSAIDs are some of the most commonly used drugs to manage pain in patients with osteoarthritis. It’s important for people with OA to talk to their care providers and discuss the risks and benefits of NSAIDs.”
