Investigating the link between over-the-counter pain medication use and hypertension risk

Authors

Maheen Zahidi
Saira Saeed Khan
Sadaf Naeem
Anosh Tahir
Gufran Ullah Khan
Maryam Mehmood
Afshan Bano

Abstract

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), both non-selective and selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, are among the most widely prescribed drugs worldwide. NSAIDs alter renal function if given in high enough doses, reducing renal blood flow and the glomerular filtration rate and causing sodium retention. An issue of interest is the association between the consumption of self-medicated over-the-counter (OTC) drugs analgesics, specifically NSAIDs and hypertension (HTN), which is considered as a cardiovascular risk factor. Objectives: This research aims to establish the relationship between the frequent use of OTC NSAIDs and an increased risk of hypertensive disease, emphasizing the implications of selfmedication practices in a low-resource setting, specifically in Karachi, Pakistan, where OTC NSAID use is more prevalent and less regulated, but other associated cardiovascular risks such as myocardial infarction and heart failure could be further hypothesized based on this research outcome. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional survey conducted in Karachi, Pakistan, from May to July 2024. Participants completed the survey through an online questionnaire that was advertised on social media platforms. A total of 110 participants, aged 20 years and older, were included in the study. These participants provided information regarding their use of OTC NSAIDs, HTN status, and lifestyle practices. Chi-square tests were utilized to compare the groups, and data analysis was performed using Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences software. Results: Among the 110 participants, 66.4% reported regular use of OTC NSAIDs. Of these, 40% (47 individuals) were diagnosed with HTN. A significant association was found between the use of OTC NSAIDs and HTN (P = 0.000). Conclusion: In the present study, it was concluded that the consistent consumption of OTC NSAIDs is vulnerable to raising the risk of HTN in consumers. This study calls for increased awareness of HTN risk for patients taking NSAIDs, especially those with other complications.

DOI

10.56808/3027-7922.3016

Recommended Citation

Zahidi, Maheen; Saeed Khan, Saira; Naeem, Sadaf; Tahir, Anosh; Ullah Khan, Gufran; Mehmood, Maryam; and Bano, Afshan (2024) "Investigating the link between over-the-counter pain medication use and hypertension risk," The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 48: Iss. 4, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56808/3027-7922.3016
Available at: https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/tjps/vol48/iss4/3