health
Common antibiotic carries cardiovascular risks
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 28, 2012
Patients taking a five-day course of azithromycin have a higher risk of death due to cardiovascular causes, such as myocardial infarction, than individuals using amoxicillin, says a study in the May 17 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. The risk was greater among individuals with a high risk of cardiovascular disease, such as people who smoke or have a poor diet.
Researchers examined data on 347,795 people age 30 to 74 enrolled in Tennessee’s Medicaid program who were prescribed azithromycin between 1992 and 2006. Participants were excluded if they had a life-threatening illness other than a cardiovascular condition, were diagnosed with drug abuse or had been hospitalized in the previous 30 days. Researchers compared the findings with those from a control group of patients who took amoxicillin.
Among patients who took a five-day course of azithromycin, there were 85.2 cardiovascular deaths per 1 million courses of the drug, data show. During the first five days of amoxicillin treatment, there were 31.5 deaths per 1 million courses. The increased risk of cardiovascular death did not persist after the treatment ended, the study said (link).
The researchers recommend that before prescribing azithromycin for a patient, health professionals consider the severity of the individual’s infection, potential adverse effects from the drug and the availability of alternative antibiotics. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the study and said patients should not stop taking their medication without first talking to their physicians.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/05/28/hlbf0528.htm.
