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Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function
Published on: March 15, 2022
Cardiovascular risks of COX inhibition: current perspectives
Mohsin Farooq1, I Haq, Amer S Qureshi
1University Hospitals of Leicester, Department of Cardiology, Leicester LE3 9QP, UK. m.farook@ntlworld.com
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
|May 14, 2008
Summary
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including COX-2 selective ones, carry a moderately increased risk of cardiovascular events. This finding applies to both traditional and newer NSAID formulations.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Drug Safety
Background:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used globally.
- Traditional NSAIDs carry risks of gastrointestinal side effects.
- COX-2 selective NSAIDs were developed to mitigate GI risks but raised cardiovascular concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on cardiovascular effects of COX inhibitors.
- To examine clinical implications of these cardiovascular effects.
Main Methods:
- Review of basic clinical research.
- Analysis of non-randomized studies.
- Examination of randomized trials on COX inhibitors and cardiovascular effects.
Main Results:
- Accumulated scientific data indicates cardiovascular concerns with COX-2 selective NSAIDs.
- Concerns also extend to traditional NSAIDs.
- Both drug classes are associated with increased cardiovascular event risk.
Conclusions:
- Both COX-2 selective and traditional NSAIDs are linked to a moderately increased risk of cardiovascular events.
- The initial therapeutic strategy for COX-2 inhibitors did not eliminate cardiovascular risks.
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