Coronary Events After Dispensing of Ibuprofen: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study Versus Paracetamol in the French Nationwide Claims Database Sample

Drug Saf. 2018 Nov;41(11):1049-1058. doi: 10.1007/s40264-018-0686-7.

Abstract

Introduction: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with a dose and duration-dependent coronary risk. There is little information concerning analgesic-dose ibuprofen, among the most widely used drugs worldwide.

Objective: Our objective was to measure the risks of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after dispensing of ibuprofen, versus paracetamol.

Methods: Propensity score 1:2-matched cohorts of ibuprofen or paracetamol treatment episodes (TEs) in Echantillon Généraliste de Bénéficiaires (EGB), the 1/97 sample of Système National des Données de Santé (SNDS), the French nationwide claims database, from 2009 to 2014, were compared. Outcomes were hospital admissions for ACS during the 3 months after the dispensing of ibuprofen or paracetamol. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated overall and stratified on low-dose aspirin dispensing.

Results: A total of 315,269 ibuprofen TEs in 168,400 persons were matched to 630,457 paracetamol TEs in 395,952 patients. Event rates were 50-100 times higher in low-dose aspirin users (27 vs 0.28 per 1000 patient years). Overall there was no difference in risk of ACS at 3 months (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.74-1.20) despite a transient increase in the first 2 weeks in ibuprofen users (HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.11-2.59). In the stratified analysis, this short-term risk was only found in aspirin users (5% of population, HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.24-3.24), but not in non-aspirin users (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.40-2.94).

Conclusions: There was no evidence for an increased risk of ACS in patients dispensed ibuprofen compared to paracetamol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / adverse effects*
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / chemically induced*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / adverse effects*
  • Aspirin / adverse effects*
  • Comorbidity
  • Databases, Factual
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • France
  • Humans
  • Ibuprofen / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Propensity Score
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Acetaminophen
  • Aspirin
  • Ibuprofen