Previous studies have shown that paracetamol has a poor safety profile compared to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in treating osteoarthritis patients. Now, a study has examined whether paracetamol increases the risk of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and renal events in individuals aged 65 years and above. The study analyzed data from 180,483 paracetamol users and 402,478 non-users.
The analysis revealed that paracetamol use was linked to an increased risk of uncomplicated peptic ulcers (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] – 1.20), peptic ulcer bleeding (aHR – 1.24), lower gastrointestinal bleeding (aHR – 1.36), chronic kidney disease (aHR – 1.19), heart failure (aHR – 1.09), and hypertension (aHR – 1.07). These findings suggest the need for careful consideration when prescribing paracetamol as a first-line treatment for older adults with long-term conditions. Have you observed…
