Study: Regular NSAID Use Inhibits Heart Protective Effect of Aspirin

People who regularly take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for their arthritis and also take aspirin to reduce the risk of a heart attack may be inhibiting the clinical benefit they receive from the latter, according to a study reported in the August 26 on-line edition of Circulation.

Prior studies have provided clear evidence that aspirin reduces risks of a first heart attack. Researchers from Massachusetts and Florida sought to determine whether other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen might interfere with heart benefits of aspirin.

The researchers analyzed the regular use of aspirin and NSAIDs in a previously conducted clinical trial that involved 22,071 healthy male physicians in the United States who took 325 milligrams of aspirin every other day.

The researchers noted that 378 heart attacks occurred among the physicans, including 139 in the aspirin group and 239 in the placebo group. Aspirin appeared to reduce the risk of a first heart attack by 44 percent.

Among the study participants who regularly took aspirin, the researchers found that NSAIDs taken less than 60 days per year did not have an inhibiting effect, but those taken more frequently did.

"Regular but not intermittent use of NSAIDs inhibits the clinical benefit of aspirin on first myocardial infarction," the researchers concluded.

Other sources: Circulation