Latest news with #ElizabethPark
Daily Record
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Common painkiller linked to deadly heart failure in older people
A major study found pregabalin raises heart failure risk, especially in older patients with heart disease. A widely prescribed drug for nerve pain, anxiety and epilepsy has been linked to a significantly higher risk of heart failure, prompting calls for doctors to be more cautious when offering it to certain patients. Pregabalin, available on prescription in the UK, was associated with a 48 percent increased risk of developing heart failure, according to a major new study. The risk was even greater among those with an existing history of heart disease, rising to 85 percent compared with patients prescribed gabapentin, a similar medication used for nerve pain. The research, led by Columbia University Irving Medical Centre, examined the records of 246,237 Medicare patients aged between 65 and 89 over a four-year period. All participants had chronic non-cancer pain lasting longer than 12 weeks and none had previously been diagnosed with heart failure. Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. While it can affect people at any age, it becomes more common as people grow older due to natural weakening and stiffening of the heart muscle. During the study period, 1470 participants were admitted to hospital with heart failure. Researchers calculated that for every 1000 people taking pregabalin, there were around six additional cases each year compared with those not on the drug. Dr Elizabeth Park, who led the study, said the findings supported the European Medicines Agency's current advice for doctors to be cautious when prescribing pregabalin to older adults with heart disease. 'Doctors should consider the cardiovascular risks of pregabalin, particularly for older or vulnerable patients,' the researchers said in their conclusion. Pregabalin works by altering the way nerves send messages to the brain and is often used when traditional painkillers fail to relieve nerve pain. While generally considered safe under medical supervision, the drug can cause side effects including headaches, diarrhoea, nausea, blurred vision and memory problems. In rare instances, pregabalin can trigger a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. The NHS advises that pregabalin is only suitable for adults and may not be appropriate for people over 65. It should not be given to children under 18. Doctors are advised to check whether patients have ever had an allergic reaction to pregabalin or any other medication, a history of substance misuse, or are pregnant or breastfeeding before prescribing the drug. People on a controlled sodium diet, or those with kidney problems, are also advised to consult their doctor, as some liquid formulations contain sodium. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Patients with breathing difficulties should also inform their healthcare provider before starting treatment. Although there is no cure for heart failure, recognising symptoms early can help slow its progression and improve quality of life. Common signs include shortness of breath during activity or when lying down, fatigue, and swelling in the legs, ankles and feet. Other symptoms can include a persistent cough, rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness and fainting. Experts say prevention is key to reducing the likelihood of heart failure. Maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, eating a balanced diet, avoiding smoking, and controlling conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can all help lower the risk.
Medscape
5 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Common Painkiller Tied to Heart Failure Risk in Older Adults
The antiseizure medication pregabalin, which is commonly prescribed for chronic pain, has been linked to an increased risk for heart failure (HF), particularly in those with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), new data suggested. In a cohort of more than 240,000 Medicare beneficiaries with noncancer chronic pain, initiation of pregabalin was associated with a 48% higher risk for new-onset HF overall and an 85% higher risk in those with a history of CVD than initiation of gabapentin. The study was published online on August 1 in JAMA Network Open . Widely Prescribed Medications Chronic pain affects up to 30% of adults aged 65 years or older. Nonopioid medications, such as the gabapentinoids pregabalin and gabapentin, are widely prescribed for chronic pain, the investigators, led by Elizabeth Park, MD, Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, noted. Pregabalin has greater potency than gabapentin in binding to the α2δ subunit of the L-type calcium channel and therefore may be associated with an increased risk for HF through actions to cause sodium/water retention. To investigate further, investigators evaluated 246,237 Medicare beneficiaries between 2014 and 2018, including 18,622 (8%) new pregabalin users and 227,615 (92%) new gabapentin users. All patients were aged 65-89 years, had chronic noncancer pain, and had no history of HF. The researchers used inverse probability of treatment weighting to adjust for an extensive list of 231 covariates to reduce confounding and attempted to closely emulate a hypothetical target trial in which Medicare patients filled new prescriptions for pregabalin or gabapentin for noncancer pain. During 114,113 person-years of follow-up, 1470 patients had a hospital admission or emergency department visit for HF. The rate of HF per 1000 person-years was 18.2 for pregabalin and 12.5 — translating to roughly six additional HF events annually for every 1000 patients treated with pregabalin — with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.48. The difference was even more pronounced in patients with a history of CVD, with an adjusted HR of 1.85. An increased risk for outpatient HF diagnoses was also seen (adjusted HR, 1.27), but there was no difference in all-cause mortality between groups. The authors said the findings further support current recommendations from the European Medicines Agency to exercise caution when prescribing pregabalin to older adults with CVD. The American Heart Association currently lists pregabalin, but not gabapentin, as a medication that may cause or exacerbate HF. Immediate Clinical Implications The co-authors of an invited commentary noted that the study provides 'timely and clinically relevant insights' into the cardiovascular safety of these two widely used gabapentinoids. From a clinical standpoint, the findings have 'immediate clinical implications,' wrote Robert Zhang, MD, with Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, and Edo Birati, MD, Tzafon (Poriya) Medical Center, Poriya, Israel. For older adults with chronic pain, particularly those with CVD, 'clinicians should weigh the potential cardiovascular risks associated with pregabalin against its analgesic benefits. This is particularly relevant given the growing use of gabapentinoids in older populations and ongoing polypharmacy issues in this age group,' Zhang and Birati advised. 'Furthermore, if pregabalin use is associated with new-onset HF, it raises the possibility that the drug may unmask underlying subclinical cardiovascular disease, which suggests a need for careful cardiac evaluation prior to prescribing this medication,' they added. 'The study serves as an important reminder that not all gabapentinoids are created equal and that in the pursuit of safer pain control, vigilance for unintended harms remains paramount,' the investigators concluded.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Alleged bungling stabber crashes car into tree
The man who allegedly stabbed his brother with a knife, assaulted his mum and then crashed a Ford SUV into a tree in a bungled getaway has fronted court again. Kane Gregory Robin Swift on Wednesday morning appeared via videolink from remand at Adelaide Magistrates Court, where prosecutors confirmed they would proceed with charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and driving a motor vehicle without consent for the wild melee that erupted at an Elizabeth Park address in the city's outer north on April 1. Police allege Mr Swift stabbed his brother Raymond Drechsler in the stomach at the address before entering a red Ford SUV after the alleged altercation, reversing out at speed and then driving straight into a tree. CCTV footage captured the moment Mr Swift ploughed into the tree. He can be seen falling out of the Ford after driving into a tree, just moments before police arrive to arrest him. The charge sheet document, released to NewsWire, alleges Mr Swift also assaulted his mother Lisa Swift during the fracas. Emergency services were called to the Billing St home about 1pm. Mr Drechsler suffered serious, life-threatening injuries from the alleged attack and paramedics rushed him to hospital. On Wednesday, defence lawyer Stephen Ey, for Mr Swift, asked magistrate Patrick Hill for more time to review CCTV footage. Mr Hill adjourned the matter until August 6 when Mr Swift is expected to enter his pleas to the allegations. Family and supporters of Mr Drechsler and Ms Swift appeared in court but declined to comment on the case.
News.com.au
09-07-2025
- News.com.au
Prosecutors press attempted murder charge against Kane Gregory Robin Swift after Adelaide fracas
The man who allegedly stabbed his brother with a knife, assaulted his mum and then crashed a Ford SUV into a tree in a bungled getaway has fronted court again. Kane Gregory Robin Swift on Wednesday morning appeared via videolink from remand at Adelaide Magistrates Court, where prosecutors confirmed they would proceed with charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and driving a motor vehicle without consent for the wild melee that erupted at an Elizabeth Park address in the city's outer north on April 1. Police allege Mr Swift stabbed his brother Raymond Drechsler in the stomach at the address before entering a red Ford SUV after the alleged altercation, reversing out at speed and then driving straight into a tree. CCTV footage captured the moment Mr Swift ploughed into the tree. He can be seen falling out of the Ford after driving into a tree, just moments before police arrive to arrest him. The charge sheet document, released to NewsWire, alleges Mr Swift also assaulted his mother Lisa Swift during the fracas. Emergency services were called to the Billing St home about 1pm. Mr Drechsler suffered serious, life-threatening injuries from the alleged attack and paramedics rushed him to hospital. On Wednesday, defence lawyer Stephen Ey, for Mr Swift, asked magistrate Patrick Hill for more time to review CCTV footage. Mr Hill adjourned the matter until August 6 when Mr Swift is expected to enter his pleas to the allegations. Family and supporters of Mr Drechsler and Ms Swift appeared in court but declined to comment on the case.
