Celecoxib currently seems to be the safest choice for treating elderly patients with congestive heart failure. Hudson and colleagues (p 1370) undertook a retrospective cohort study that included more than 2000 patients aged 66 or more who were prescribed celecoxib, rofexocib, or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) at their index admission for congestive heart failure. The combined risk of death and recurrent congestive heart failure was higher in patients prescribed NSAIDs or rofexocib than in those prescribed celecoxib (hazard ratios 1.26 and 1.27, respectively).
Figure 1.
Credit: JOHN BAVOSI/SPL