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Ibuprofen: Ibuprofen Photo Courtesy
Ibuprofen linked to risk of cardiac arrest
Commonly bought over-the-counter painkillers including ibuprofen have been linked to a significant increased risk of cardiac arrest.
A 10-year Danish study of nearly 30,000 patients found the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was associated with a 31 per cent increased risk of a cardiac arrest.
The findings have led to calls for tighter restrictions on the sale of NSAIDs.
“Allowing these drugs to be purchased without a prescription, and without any advice or restrictions, sends a message to the public that they must be safe,” said study author Professor Gunnar Gislason, professor of cardiology at Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte in Denmark.
“Previous studies have shown that NSAIDs are related to increased cardiovascular risk which is a concern because they are widely used.”
Researchers examined all out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in Denmark between 2001 and 2010 using the nationwide Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry.
Data was collected on all redeemed prescriptions for NSAIDs from Danish pharmacies since 1995.READ MORE