Background and objective: Our purpose was to estimate the association between the intake of non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and hospitalization due to heart failure (HF) and to assess the effect of selective COX-2 inhibitors.
Patients and method: This was a case-control study, including 982 patients with HF, and 788 controls, with a history of HF who were hospitalized in 10 hospitals of the community of Madrid.
Results: The use of NSAIDs (other than aspirine at low doses) was associated with an increase in the risk of hospitalization due to HF (OR crude = 1.59; 95% interval confidence, 1.20-2.09; OR adjusted, 1.40; 95% interval confidence, 1.03-1.90).
Conclusions: Intake of NSAIDs is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization due to HF, in susceptible patients.