The association between the use of NSAIDs and an increased risk of heart failure has been known about for years. Taking a higher dose of these drugs was found to increase the risk. The increase in risk was higher for some drugs such as diclofenac, and lower for ibuprofen. People who had used an NSAID in the previous fortnight were found to have a 19 per cent higher risk of hospital admission for heart failure (after the researchers adjusted the figures to take into account other factors which would influence the results). The increase in risk was higher for some drugs such as diclofenac, and lower for ibuprofen This large study looked at the health records of more than 8 million patients, with an average age of 77, and whether they had used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac. And concerns about these drugs apply mostly to people who take them on a daily basis rather than for an occasional headache. Most doctors already avoid prescribing them to people with these issues. What’s more, these drugs are already well-known to be linked to heart failure, heart attacks and strokes. The research suggests that the increase in risk is about 37.5 admissions for heart failure per 10,000 person years – a relatively small number. Most people under 65 are not at risk of heart failure unless they have heart problems already. The study showed that the risk is still very small for most people. The story has received widespread news coverage, much of which sounds quite alarming.įor most people, particularly the under-65s and those without heart problems, the answer is no. Should you be worried about ibuprofen causing heart failure?Ī new study has shown a link between heart failure and a class of painkillers that includes ibuprofen.

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