Cardiovascular safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

摘要

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency-have directed that diclofenac is nowcontraindicated in patients with congestive heartfailure (New York Heart Association classification II-IV], ischaemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and cerebrovascular disease, due to the increased risk of arterial thrombosis. Patients on diclofenac should see their GP at their next routine appointment to be switched to an alternative treatment. We carried out an audit in an urban general practice of 13 000 predominantly white patients in Yorkshire to establish the number of patients affected by these recommendations and the subsequent impact on GP workload.