Pain Relievers Maybe Complicating Workers' Compensation Claims

NSAIDs commonly prescribed for pain relief in workers' compensation claims, to relieve pains and aches, may in fact be really making the health status of the injured worker worse in patients with cardiovascular symptomatology.

"The use of NSAIDs is associated with persistently increased coronary risk regardless of time elapsed after first-time MI. We advise long-term caution in using NSAIDs for patients after MI."

Click here to read "Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk of NSAID Use According to Time Passed After First-Time Myocardial Infarction: A Nationwide Cohort Study" CIRCULATIONAHA.112.112607Published online before print September 10, 2012,doi: 10.1161/​CIRCULATIONAHA.112.112607

"More than 80 million people in the United States have some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD)—for example, coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, or heart failure—and millions of others are at increased risk for these diseases. Over half of these people are also affected by arthritis and other disorders of the musculoskeletal system—the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and bursa. The pain associated with these chronic conditions is often treated with a class of medications known as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, it has been shown that taking some NSAIDs can increase a person’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This risk is likely greatest in patients who have a prior history of CVD or who are at high risk for CVD. "

Click here to read "Can Patients With Cardiovascular Disease Take Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs?" Circulation.2008; 117: e322-e324doi: 10.1161/​CIRCULATIONAHA.107.749135

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