Differences in outcomes of patients with congestive heart failure prescribed celecoxib, rofecoxib, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: population based study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the risk of death and recurrent congestive heart failure in elderly patients prescribed celecoxib, rofecoxib, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and to determine whether there are class differences between celecoxib and rofecoxib.


METHODS
Population based retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Databases of hospital discharge summaries and prescription drug claims in Quebec.


METHODS
2256 patients aged 66 or more prescribed celecoxib, rofecoxib, or an NSAID after an index admission for congestive heart failure between April 2000 and March 2002.


METHODS
Time to all cause death and recurrent congestive heart failure, combined and separately.


RESULTS
The risk of death and recurrent congestive heart failure combined was higher in patients prescribed NSAIDs or rofexocib than in those prescribed celecoxib (hazard ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.57 and 1.27, 1.09 to 1.49, respectively). The findings were similar when the outcomes were assessed separately. In pairwise analysis, the risks of death and recurrent congestive heart failure, combined and separate, were similar between patients prescribed NSAIDs and rofecoxib.


CONCLUSIONS
Celecoxib seems safer than rofecoxib and NSAIDs in elderly patients with congestive heart failure. Differences were found among cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors.
Hudson
Marie
M
Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of McGill University Health Center, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC, H3G 1A4 Canada.
Richard
Hugues
H
Pilote
Louise
L
D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002423:Cause of Death; D000068579:Celecoxib; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007783:Lactones; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D000068579:Celecoxib