Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs That Elevate Cardiovascular Risk: An Examination of Sales and Essential Medicines Lists in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries

Patricia McGettigan; David Henry

doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001388

February 12, 2013PLoS MedicineOpen Access

Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs That Elevate Cardiovascular Risk: An Examination of Sales and Essential Medicines Lists in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key Points

To assess national essential medicines lists and sales patterns regarding non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that elevate cardiovascular risk across diverse income settings.
Examined drug sales data and national essential medicines lists across low-, middle-, and high-income countries.
Evaluated the cardiovascular safety profile of widely listed drugs, focusing on diclofenac relative to rofecoxib.
Diclofenac exhibits a cardiovascular risk profile very similar to rofecoxib, a drug previously withdrawn worldwide due to cardiovascular toxicity.
National essential medicines lists continue to include high-risk agents despite documented cardiovascular harm, indicating that diclofenac should be removed in favor of low-risk options.

Structured PICO

P

Population

National Essential Medicines Lists and sales data in low-, middle-, and high-income countries

I

Intervention

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), specifically diclofenac

O

Outcome

Cardiovascular risk and Essential Medicines List (EML) listing statussafety

Diclofenac poses a cardiovascular risk similar to rofecoxib and should be removed from national Essential Medicines Lists.

Ask about this paper

Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Implication

May warrant clinician caution with diclofenac; leaves open need for RCTs before Essential Medicines List changes.

Abstract

Listing of NSAIDs on national EMLs should take account of cardiovascular risk, with preference given to low risk drugs. Diclofenac has a risk very similar to rofecoxib, which was withdrawn from worldwide markets owing to cardiovascular toxicity. Diclofenac should be removed from EMLs.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

McGettigan et al. (2013) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69dacd814a1e15904c836603 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001388

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs That Elevate Cardiovascular Risk: An Examination of Sales and Essential Medicines Lists in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries

Key Points

Structured PICO

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs That Elevate Cardiovascular Risk: An Examination of Sales and Essential Medicines Lists in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries

Key Points

Structured PICO

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading