BRITAIN: Painkillers 'Increase Risk of Heart Failure'

EDINBURGH (The Scotsman), May 22, 2006: Taking commonly-used painkillers could increase the risk of heart failure in the elderly by almost a third, according to new research. The study, involving the medical records of millions of patients across the UK, found that drugs such as ibuprofen raised the risk of someone being admitted to hospital with heart failure for the first time by 30 per cent. The researchers, led by Dr Consuelo Huerta, identified all patients aged 60 to 84 on January 1, 1997. They were then monitored up to the end of 2000. Several factors increased the risk of being admitted to hospital with heart failure for the first time, including obesity, smoking and other medical problems. But the researchers also noted that 14 per cent of patients were taking prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at the time they were admitted to hospital. This compared to 10 per cent of a control group who did not suffer heart failure. Those patients taking the drug indomethacin appeared to face the greatest risk - they were more than three times as likely to be admitted to hospital for heart failures than those not taking the drug. The researchers said the figures suggested that there would be just one extra first case of hospital admission for heart failure for every 1,000 people aged 60 to 84 taking NSAIDs. But they said this could rise to three additional cases per 1,000 in patients aged 70 and older with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney failure. The researchers, from Madrid, said although the overall risk may appear small, it may have a considerable impact on public health. The researchers said: "Heart failure is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly and even a small increase in the risk can translate into a significant disease burden in the general population." June Davison, medical spokeswoman for the British Heart Foundation, said the study confirmed that the use of NSAIDs may increase symptoms in people who have heart failure. She said: "Many people who are prescribed this medication suffer debilitating pain from inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. These people may consider the possible slight increase in risk of heart failure symptoms to be acceptable." A spokesman for the International Ibuprofen Foundation said: "This study is concerned with long-term prescription use of ibuprofen in patients aged 60 to 84. It would therefore not apply to the general public and certainly not to over-the-counter use of ibuprofen." • Britons are currently so unhealthy that much of the population would have to take cholesterol-lowering drugs to make a significant impact on rates of heart disease, say researchers in the journal Heart. Statins, which are highly effective at cutting cholesterol levels, are reserved only for high-risk patients in the UK. By Lyndsay Moss, Health Correspondent ©2006 Scotsman.com