Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, better known as NSAIDs, are often prescribed to patients with osteoarthritis in order to control pain and inflammation. However, a new study out of Canada shows a connection between these drugs and an increased risk in osteoarthritis patients developing cardiovascular disease.
About the Study
Individuals who have osteoarthritis are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, compared to people who do not have osteoarthritis. However, researchers were not aware of what caused the elevated risk. The study’s researchers sought to understand this connection and the role that NSAIDs play.
Canadian researchers used provincial administrative data to determine how the increased risk in cardiovascular disease risk was associated with osteoarthritis and the use of NSAIDs. The study involved more than 7,000 osteoarthritis patients with more than 23,000 controls without osteoarthritis. Researchers believe that the study was the first longitudinal study that evaluated the role of NSAIDs and their relationship between osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease in a sizable sample based on population.
Researchers cited the importance of having a population-based assessment of a problem that is becoming more serious in Canada. Approximately 5 million Canadian residents have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. More than 1.2 million prescriptions for NSAIDs were written in the country to treat patients with osteoarthritis.
The study was published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Study Findings
Researchers found that the risk of patients with osteoarthritis developing cardiovascular disease was 23 percent higher than people who did not have osteoarthritis. This confirmed that osteoarthritis is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Researchers believe that a substantial percentage of the increased risk was due to using NSAIDs. Approximately 41 percent of this increased risk could be due to the use of NSAIDs, according to the researchers.
Researchers also found other health risks were higher for patients with osteoarthritis, including:
- Congestive heart failure
- Stroke
- Ischaemic heart disease
Again, researchers believed that NSAIDs were largely responsible for the elevated risk.
Implications of the Study
NSAIDs are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs to patients with osteoarthritis. They are used to help patients with this condition manage pain. Patients with osteoarthritis should talk to their healthcare providers and fully discuss the risks and benefits of NSAIDs before starting a regimen.
Researchers believe that their findings may change the way that osteoarthritis patients are treated.
