Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs – painkillers) raise the risk of heart attack, even with short term use.
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There are 2 types of NSAIDs: COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors. COX-1 and COX-2 are two enzymes blocked by these drugs. Selective COX-2 inhibitors are gentler on the stomach. A previous trial showed one of them, rofecoxib, produced a marked rise in cardiovascular risk but another, celecoxib, did not.
The current analysis of patient data in the real word shows:
Odds ratios comparing to no use (95% credible intervals):
-1.24 (0.91 to 1.82) for celecoxib
-1.48 (1.00 to 2.26) for ibuprofen
-1.50 (1.06 to 2.04) for diclofenac
-1.53 (1.07 to 2.33) for naproxen
-1.58 (1.07 to 2.17) for rofecoxib
There could be confounding factors of course. The conclusion: celecoxib seems as safe as standard NSAIDs.