Repeated acetaminophen use poses health risks in older adults

Repeated acetaminophen use poses health risks in older adults

New research led by experts at the University of Nottingham has found that repeated doses of paracetamol may lead to an increased risk of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal complications in people aged 65 and over.

The new study published inArthritis Care and Researchshows that caution should be exercised when repeated doses are required in chronic pain conditions such as osteoarthritis in the elderly.

The study was led by Professor Weiya Zhang from the NIHR Biomedical Research Center at the University of Nottingham School of Medicine.

Because of its perceived safety, acetaminophen has long been recommended in many treatment guidelines as a first-line drug treatment for osteoarthritis, particularly in the elderly who are at higher risk of drug-related complications.”

Professor Weiya Zhang, NIHR Biomedical Research Center at the University of Nottingham School of Medicine

The study analyzed data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink-Gold. Participants were aged 65 years and over, with an average age of 75 years, and had been registered with a UK GP practice for at least one year between 1998 and 2018.

Researchers examined the health records of 180,483 people who had been repeatedly prescribed acetaminophen during the study (≥2 prescriptions within six months). Their health outcomes were then compared to those of 402,478 people of the same age who had never been repeatedly prescribed paracetamol.

The results showed that prolonged use of acetaminophen was associated with an increased risk of stomach ulcers, heart failure, high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease.

Professor Zhang added: "While further research is needed to confirm our findings, careful consideration needs to be given to the minimal analgesic effect of paracetamol as a first-line analgesic for long-term conditions such as osteoarthritis in the elderly." .”

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