No beneficial effects of aspirin on secondary cardiovascular prevention in patients with type 2 diabetes using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Abstract

There is little evidence on whether non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin interact in secondary cardiovascular prevention in type 2 diabetic patients. This is an observational study using data from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes and Follow-on studies. Hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models to compare time to death in patients using and not using aspirin who were simultaneously using or not using NSAIDs. A total of 3600 type 2 diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease were included. During a mean follow-up period of 8.8 years, 948 patients died. After adjustments, the risk of all-cause mortality in patients not using NSAIDs was significantly lower in those using aspirin than in those not using aspirin (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.70-0.93; P = 0.004). The risk in patients using NSAIDs did not differ significantly between the two groups. There was a significant interaction between aspirin use and NSAIDs use. In type 2 diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease, aspirin use was not beneficial for those using NSAIDs.