It’s already been accepted that these types of painkillers may increase the risk of heart attacks.
This new study is reported as claiming they may increase the risk by up to 100%.
It uses statistical terms which may well be misunderstood by health reporters, patients, and even doctors
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" Meta-analysis " combines results from a number of studies. " Bayesian " takes into account previous information. " Odds ratio " and " relative risk " of greater than 1 means increased risk from whatever factor is being studied.
This was an " observational study " - they couldn’t prove cause and effect. It was also on patients who had prescribed, not " over-the-counter ", painkillers.
It's vital to know the " absolute risk " - the probability that an event ( heart attack ) will happen. This new study didn’t make clear this baseline risk of people having heart attacks.
The absolute risk of any one of us having a heart attack varies - from around nil in a young female to perhaps 5% in an older man. It depends on well known risk factors, some of which can’t be changed ( age, gender, race, family history ) ; whereas others can possibly be modified ( such as cholesterol level, smoking, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure ). When asked, the authors of this paper said " … it seems reasonable to conclude that the absolute risk due to NSAIDS is on average increased by about 0.5-1% per year ".
These drugs can be effective, although they should be used in moderation ( in some cases not at all ); other drugs may be available; and continuous pain / inflammation needs treatment if it is not itself to cause more illness.
The reporting of this topic in the media - as with other health topics - could have been better. As always, moderation in all things and taking advice if needed from a doctor you can trust seems the sensible way forward
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Originally Posted by Doc Alan
It’s already been accepted that these types of painkillers may increase the risk of heart attacks.
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