What are the frequency and associated short-term, adverse outcomes in high-risk patients of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescriptions?

BEEM Bottom Line

Why is this study important?

There are limited analgesic options for older adults with musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, and it is well known that opioids are addictive and can impair cognition. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to treat MSK pain in adults, but their use in high-risk older adults (i.e., those with hypertension [HTN], chronic kidney disease [CKD], or cardiovascular disease [CVD]) is discouraged. Even though NSAIDs are not recommended for high-risk patients, there is no strong evidence of renal or cardiovascular adverse effects from short term use.

Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?

Thank you for your interest in the BEEM Journal!

To read the rest of this article or to access the entire collection of BEEM Critical Appraisals, please purchase a subscription at the link below.

If you would like a pre-view, click here to view some sample articles

Premium Content Available Through Subscription

BEEM is a knowledge translation project which aims to extract the most recent, EM relevant, and valid evidence from the volumes of available medical research and deliver it to EM practitioners in an easily consumable format to help guide their clinical practice. This valuable distilled information provided by BEEM is available through BEEM's accredited CME courses or through our online journal.

A BEEM Journal Subscription will provide you with unlimited access to our entire collection of Critical Appraisals for 1 year.