Painkillers ‘risk to heart’

Common painkillers used by millions of people in the UK are linked to an increased risk of heart failure, experts have said.

Non- selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen could increase the risk of being admitted to hospital with the heart problem, a study found.

Previous studies have linked the drugs to abnormal heart rhythm – which can cause heart failure – and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke if taken regularly.

The drugs, together with a sub-group of anti-inflammatories known as selective COX-2 inhibitors, are used to control pain and inflammation.

The new study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), used data for almost 10million NSAIDs users from theUK, Netherlands, Italy andGermany, who started NSAID treatment between 2000 and 2010.

Overall, 92,163 hospital admissions for heart failure were identified among the group.

The study found people who had taken any NSAID in the previous 14 days had a 19% increased risk of hospital admission for heart failure compared with people who had used NSAIDs at any point in the past.