Vioxx, Celebrex, Naproxen, and Aspirin

[billroper]

I've tried some cursory web browsing to see if I can find an answer to this question and have failed utterly. So, absent data, I post speculation which is probably wrong, but which is an entertaining thought.

Recent studies have shown that taking Vioxx, Celebrex, or Naproxen tend to increase the user's risk of heart attack and stroke, according to press reports. This leads to the next question: "Relative to what?"

See, I recall research that indicates that taking aspirin will reduce your chance of heart attack and stroke. If you're among the experimental group in a study taking high doses of an anti-inflammatory, you're not likely ever to take any aspirin, because you're on enough similar pain medication to choke a horse.

But what about the control group? Did they take aspirin now and again? Is it possible that what this research has done is to measure not an increased risk of heart attack and stroke among the experimental group, but a decreased risk of heart attack and stroke in a control group that took the occasional aspirin?

This inquiring mind would like to know.

Comments

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

Hey, most scientists aren't like Dermot.