Patients with ischaemic heart disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs dosing — recommendations and real-life clinical setting

Objective. To study the frequency and features of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use at the outpatient stage in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Material and methods. A single-center observational study of the frequency and features of the NSAIDs use by patients with confirmed CAD was conducted. The study was carried out in two stages: in the first stage 197 patients with myocardial infarction (MI) were examined, in the second stage — 71 patients with IHD, receiving double or triple antithrombotic therapy. The study was continuous, all patients hospitalized in the hospital were surveyed. Results. Patients with MI (42%) took NSAIDs during the month prior to admission for various reasons. Patients indicated as the main cause or one of causes for NSAIDs dosing back pain — 39%, headache — 30%, joint pain — 27%. It has been noted that 53% of patients with MI had been receiving NSAIDs for more than 1 year. Of patients receiving double or triple antithrombotic outpatient treatment, 23% had used NSAIDs within a month prior to hospitalization. The main or one of the causes more frequently indicated by patients for the NSAIDs use was back pain — 47%, headache — 33%, joint pain — 25%. The choice of NSAIDs was not optimal and did not correspond to the recommendations. Conclusion. Approximately every second patient with ischaemic heart disease often and for a long duration takes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This situation is particularly worrying in patients taking double or triple antithrombotic therapy. This determines the critical importance of rational choice of the safest non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs considering the risk of complications from the cardiovascular system and/or the gastrointestinal tract.