In an article published in the March issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, researchers from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) assess the totality of evidence, including strengths and limitations of different types of evidence contributing to the debate about cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
In the article, “Cyclooxygenese-2 Inhibitors and Most Traditional Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Cause Similar Moderately Increased Risks of Cardiovascular Disease,” the researchers conclude that the risks of CVD for COX-2 inhibitors are no greater than most traditional NSAIDs, except naproxen, and are smaller than previously suggested. The research was coauthored by Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., the first Sir Richard Doll Research Professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science at FAU, and Steven Borzak, M.D., a clinical associate professor at FAU. Hennekens has elucidated numerous causal, therapeutic and preventive factors in the treatment and prevention of CVD, most notably low-dose aspirin.
Selective COX-2 inhibitors were believed to cause large CVD risks, including heart attacks, strokes and deaths. Of the originally marketed drugs, rofecoxib (Vioxx), lumaricoxib (Bextra) and celecoxib (Celebrex), only the latter remains on the U.S. market. Traditional NSAIDs are frequently used to treat inflammatory arthritis and are often the first line drug prescribed by health care providers or selected by patients to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Drugs in this class include ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (e.g. Voltarin) and naproxen (e.g. Aleve).
Some of the key findings of the research are that: