Sept. 10, 2012 -- Heart attack survivors who take commonly used pain relievers have a higher risk of dying or having another heart attack, new research shows. The Danish study adds to the evidence linking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve) to poorer outcomes in heart patients. Using the painkillers after a first heart attack was linked to a higher risk for a second heart attack or death from any cause. And the risk persisted over at least five years.

Pain Relief Tricky After Heart Attack Like previous studies, the new research does not prove that NSAIDs are directly responsible for these events. But the evidence as a whole strongly suggests that the pain relievers should be used cautiously, if at all, by heart attack survivors, says Anne-Marie Schjerning Olsen, MD, who led the Danish study. “Our results indicate that use of NSAIDs is associated with persistently increased coronary risk, regardless of the time elapsed after a [heart attack],” she says. “Thus, long-term caution is advised in all patients.” The study included data on nearly 100,000 survivors of first heart attacks, taken from Danish hospital and pharmacy registries. Just under half of the people (44%) filled at least one prescription for an NSAID at some point after their heart attack. Compared to those who presumably did not take NSAIDs, people who did had a 59% increased risk of death from any cause within one year of having the heart attack and a 63% increased risk over five years. The risk of having another heart attack or dying from heart disease was 30% higher after one year in NSAID users and 41% after five years.