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SUMMARIES FOR PATIENTS

Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors and Heart Attacks: Varying Effects?

1 February 2005 | Volume 142 Issue 3 | Page I-21

Summaries for Patients are a service provided by Annals to help patients better understand the complicated and often mystifying language of modern medicine.

Summaries for Patients are presented for informational purposes only. These summaries are not a substitute for advice from your own medical provider. If you have questions about this material, or need medical advice about your own health or situation, please contact your physician. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the American College of Physicians.

The summary below is from the full report titled "Patients Exposed to Rofecoxib and Celecoxib Have Different Odds of Nonfatal Myocardial Infarction." It is in the 1 February 2005 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (volume 142, pages 157-164). The authors are S.E. Kimmel, J.A. Berlin, M. Reilly, J. Jaskowiak, L. Kishel, J. Chittams, and B.L. Strom.


What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
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People commonly use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain. Examples of older NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). Although these older NSAIDs are fairly safe, they can irritate the lining of the stomach and can cause ulcers and bleeding. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors are a new type of selective NSAIDs. Examples of COX-2 inhibitors are celecoxib (Celebrex), rofecoxib (Vioxx), and valdecoxib (Bextra). They inhibitors do not injure the stomach lining as much as older NSAIDs do and cause fewer stomach problems and ulcers. However, they also cost more and require a doctor's prescription. Also, some COX-2 inhibitors increase the risk for heart disease. For example, rofecoxib was withdrawn from the market in September 2004 because a large trial found that it increased the risk for heart attacks and strokes. We do not know whether other COX-2 inhibitors have similar or different risks.


Why did the researchers do this particular study?
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To see whether the risk for having a heart attack was similar among people taking rofecoxib; celecoxib; and older, nonselective NSAIDs.


Who was studied?
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1718 patients with a first, nonfatal heart attack and 6800 adults with no history of a heart attack. All patients were 40 to 75 years of age from 5 counties in Pennsylvania.


How was the study done?
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The researchers identified patients with recent heart attacks who were discharged from 36 hospitals between May 1998 and December 2002. They also identified adults with no history of a heart attack who were living in the same geographic region. They interviewed all participants by telephone and asked them several questions about past NSAID use. Patients with heart attacks reported use during the week before to their heart attack, while others reported use during the week before the interview. The researchers then compared NSAID use between patients with heart attacks and those with no history of a heart attack.


What did the researchers find?
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Older NSAIDs were associated with a decreased risk for heart attack. Almost one third of the adults with no history of a heart attack reported taking older NSAIDs, while only about one fifth of those with a heart attack reported using these drugs. About 2.5% of the adults in both groups reported that they took 1 of 2 COX-2 inhibitors that were examined in the study. Use of rofecoxib was associated with a 2.72-higher odds of heart attack than was use of celecoxib. Rofecoxib was also associated with a higher odds of heart attack compared with older NSAIDs. Whether celecoxib was associated with a similar odds of heart attack compared with older NSAIDs was not clear.


What were the limitations of the study?
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Only about 50% of eligible adults completed interviews. The study was not a randomized trial. Drug use was self-reported.


What are the implications of the study?
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The risk for heart disease with rofecoxib and celecoxib may differ.


Related articles in Annals:

Improving Patient Care
Responding to the Rofecoxib Withdrawal Crisis: A New Model for Notifying Patients at Risk and Their Health Care Providers
Anil Jain, Ashish Atreja, C. Martin Harris, Meghan Lehmann, Jon Burns, AND James Young
Annals 2005 142: 182-186. [ABSTRACT][Full Text]  

Editorials
Cardiovascular Risks of Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors: Where We Stand Now
Axel Finckh AND Mark D. Aronson
Annals 2005 142: 212-214. [Full Text]  

Summaries for Patients
Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors and Heart Attacks: Varying Effects?
Annals 2005 142: I-21. [Full Text]  



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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

COX-2 and Perceptions of Conflict of Interest
David A. Nardone
Annals Online, 2 Feb 2005 [Full text]
Is Medicine based on evidences or merely on opinion? An example: cardiotoxicity of COX-2 inhibitors.
Salvatore Corrao
Annals Online, 6 Mar 2005 [Full text]

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