Anti-inflammatory drug use effects on cardiovascular health outlined in ten-year, 13-country precision trial

A 10-year trial involving osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients in 13 countries reveals new insights on the cardiovascular safety of widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and COX-2-specific inhibitors, according to new research findings. Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease affecting middle-age and older people. It is characterized by progressive damage to the joint cartilage — the cushioning material at the end of long bones–and causes changes in the structures around the joint.