Arthritis Tied to Heart Disease. Pain Relievers May Be to Blame.

A study in Arthritis & Rheumatology found nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) may be largely responsible for the association between osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease, reports the New York Times . The investigators looked at Canadian health databases to match 7,743 persons with osteoarthritis with 23,229 healthy controls who rarely or never used NSAIDs. Those with osteoarthritis had a 42 percent higher risk for congestive heart failure, a 17 percent elevated risk for coronary heart disease, and a 14 percent increased risk for stroke compared to controls. The researchers determined 41 percent of the higher risk for any cardiovascular event was attributable to NSAID usage. University of British Columbia Professor Aslam H. Anis recommended people with osteoarthritis should consult with their doctors about the risks and benefits of NSAIDs. "Sometimes the treatment is worse than the disease," he added.