A new study conducted by British researchers indicated that patients taking common pain medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) have a greater risk of heart failure.
In fact, people between the ages of 60 and 84 who were taking NSAIDs were 30 percent more likely to have heart problems than those not taking the medications. The results of the study were published in the on line edition of the medical journal 'Heart.'
The study examined people between the ages of 60 and 84 who were admitted to the hospital with heart problems for the first time over a four year period. It found that 14 percent of those admitted with heart problems were taking NSAIDs at the time they were admitted while only 10 percent of a comparison group of randomly selected people were taking the same medication.
The highest risk was associated with indomethicin (indocin). People taking that drug were three times more likely to be admitted to a hospital than those not taking indomethicin. The drug is most commonly prescribed for people suffering from osteoarthritis.
Patients taking these medications are urged to contact their doctors.
