New Study Suggests Diabetics at Greatly Increased Risk of Heart Failure with NSAID Use

Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs, are a class of medications that are used to treat pain, fever, and inflammatory processes. The most common types of NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam, and celecoxib.

While NSAIDs are considered relatively safe, some studies have suggested that NSAIDs can exacerbate some psychiatric conditions such as depression, paranoia, and schizophrenia. Additionally, gastrointestinal issues, cardiovascular events, and kidney issues are common side effects of NSAIDs.

Yet still with the risks, NSAIDs make up around 5 to 10 percent of all medications prescribed. In the over 65 age group, that percentage increases to as high as 96 percent, and around 7.3 percent over the age of 60 have filled at least one NSAID prescription within the last year.

According to a recent report from Medscape, diabetics especially may want to reconsider using NSAIDs. A European study soon to be presented at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology found that type 2 diabetics have a 50 percent greater risk of developing heart failure even in cases where the NSAID use is as little as 28 days. Additionally, new users, those over the age of 79, and those with elevated A1c levels are particularly vulnerable.

A total of 331,189 patients with type 2 diabetes and of an average of 62 were included in the study. The group had a 7 percent hospitalization rate, equaling a total of 23,308 admitted for heart failure during follow up. Of the 7 percent, 16 percent had stated they had at least one NSAID prescription within 2 years. Three percent stated they had at least 3 prescriptions during the same time period. The study follow up began 120 days post-diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and included no patients that had a previous history of heart failure or rheumatologic disease.

Fluid retention is a side effect of NSAID use. The researchers hypothesized that the fluid retention could be a contributing factor as it has already been linked to subclinical cardiomyopathy and kidney dysfunction. However, lead author of the study Anders Holt, MD believes that the association may be premature stating, "According to this study and particularly the subgroups analyses, it seems that incident heart failure associated with short-term NSAID use could be more than just fluid overload. Further investigations into the specific mechanisms causing these associations are warranted."

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