Acetaminophen may confer high BP in patients with CV risks
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In patients with CV risks, there was a correlation between acetaminophen use and elevated systolic BP, according to a meta-analysis in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
“Acetaminophen is one of the most widely used over-the-counter medications, as it is considered a safer medication for long-term use since it lacks the anti-inflammatory effects of NSAIDs,” Rahul Gupta, MD, cardiovascular disease fellow at Lehigh Valley Health Network, told Healio. “Although acetaminophen has long been considered to be a much safer alternative to NSAIDs for treatment of mild to moderate pain in patients, the use over long term can worsen the systolic blood pressure, and caution is recommended in patients with known cardiovascular disease or with cardiovascular disease risk factors.”
In a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, Gupta and colleagues discovered three relevant studies that administered acetaminophen to patients daily over the course of 2 and 3 weeks.
Of 172 participants (mean age, 59 years; 73% men), those receiving acetaminophen had higher systolic BP compared with the placebo group (standardized mean difference = 0.38; 95% CI, 0.05-0.17; P = .02).
“Cautious use is recommended over the long term, especially in patients with pre-existing hypertension or cardiovascular risk factors,” Gupta said.
There was no significant change in diastolic BP when comparing acetaminophen and placebo (standardized mean difference = 0.18; 95% CI, –0.09 to –0.45; P = .19).
“We would like to see further randomized trials with larger sample size to determine the effects of acetaminophen in a normotensive patient population, assess the effects of parenteral administration of acetaminophen on blood pressure and to determine the cardiovascular consequences of its long-term use,” Gupta said.
For more information:
Rahul Gupta, MD, can be reached at rgupta8687@gmail.com.
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