Sodium-containing Acetaminophen Intake Increases the Risk of CVD and All-cause Mortality

Dr. Hoque Clinical question: Does the use of sodium-containing acetaminophen increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in patients with and without a history of hypertension when compared to non-sodium-containing acetaminophen? Background: There is a common misconception that excess sodium intake comes primarily from dietary sources. The excipients of common over-the-counter medications such as some formulations of acetaminophen may contain significant amounts of sodium. For example, a 500-mg dose of soluble acetaminophen contains 390 mg of sodium, and a 500-mg dose of effervescent acetaminophen has 440 mg of sodium. Study design: A large population-based study of two cohorts of individuals 60–90 years old. Setting: The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a UK-based electronic medical record database was analyzed from January 2000 to December 2017. The THIN database identified individuals receiving sodium-containing and non–sodium-containing acetaminophen both with and without a diagnosis of hypertension. Synopsis: A total of 151,398 individuals with hypertension and 147,299 individuals without hypertension were analyzed. The primary outcomes were incident CVD (myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure) and all-cause mortality during a one-year follow-up. Incident CVD risk at one year was higher among sodium-containing acetaminophen initiators compared to non–sodium-containing acetaminophen initiators in individuals with a history ...
Source: The Hospitalist - Category: Hospital Management Authors: Tags: In the Literature Source Type: research