Comment on NSAIDs Cardiovascular FINAL 4

Comment on NSAIDs, Arthritis and Cardiovascular Health Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) play an important role in the management of pain and inflammation in many forms of arthritis. Over the past several years, considerable attention has been paid to the fact that these drugs increase the risk of serious cardiovascular complications, including heart attacks and strokes. As a result, all NSAIDs other than aspirin now carry an FDA-mandated warning regarding the risk of cardiovascular side effects. The American Heart Association recently developed guidelines for the treatment of people with arthritis and musculoskeletal disease who have (or are at high risk for) cardiovascular disease. The guidance emphasizes the range of treatment options which are available and, in particular, calls attention to the heightened risk of cardiovascular complications of NSAIDs in this population of patients. The guidance stresses that NSAIDs should be used with caution in these patients, and that all patients taking NSAIDs should be carefully monitored for the development of high blood pressure, worsening kidney function, fluid retention and gastrointestinal bleeding. In addition, the recommendations suggest that low-dose aspirin should be considered, especially in patients taking selective COX-2 inhibitors. The Arthritis Foundation recognizes the importance of minimizing the risks of side effects from NSAIDs, but believes that little ...