Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of heart failure

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of heart failure

P.R. Kamchatnov¹, A.V. Chugunov¹, D.T. Chipova², A.Yu. Kazakov¹

¹Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow

²City Clinical Hospital, Nalchik

Musculoskeletal pain syndromes, in particular, dorsalgia, are a common cause of temporary disability and a decrease in the life quality of patients. Frequent recurrence of pain syndrome with the need for repeated therapy courses, the presence of concomitant diseases and risk factors for the development of adverse events during treatment require a carefully balanced approach to the treatment tactics. The article discusses the results of a large-scale study on the association between the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the risk of heart failure (HF). The study showed an increased risk of hospitalization in HF during selective and non-selective COX inhibitors administration, while the degree of risk depended on the specific drug and its dose (risk assessment was not fully performed for NSAIDs, the most rarely used in clinical practice). Given the increased risk of hospitalizations in HF, it is important to choose NSAIDs with a favorable benefit-risk ratio. An example of such a drug is flurbiprofen. The article notes a combination of sufficient efficacy and safety of flurbiprofen for the treatment of patients with dorsalgia.

Keywords: musculoskeletal pain syndrome, dorsalgia, heart failure, flurbiprofen, NSAIDs, safety.

For citation: Kamchatnov P.R., Chugunov A.V., Chipova D.T., Kazakov A.Yu. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of heart failure. RMJ. 2023;2:88–95.