MeReC Extra 30
December 5, 2007 on 9:30 am | In Prescribing Extra - Other |
Print
|
The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) has published MeReC Extra 30 (PDF). It covers the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal safety of NSAIDs, an update on the cardiovascular (CV) risk of glitazones and the results of the ADVANCE study.
The section discussing the safety of NSAIDs examines the safety of NSAID therapy with due consideration of cardiovascular, cardiorenal and gastrointestinal risks. Current prescribing figures for England are presented with this information and are used to estimate the level of harm being caused by this level of prescribing.
The update on the CV risk of glitazones provides additional information that has become available since the publication of MeReC Extra 29.
Finally, the results of the ADVANCE study are discussed in the context of the current evidence. The NPC conclude that tight blood pressure control reduces cardiovascular complications and deaths in patients with diabetes and that “based on their safety, efficacy, tolerability and cost, thiazide diuretics are a good first choice agent for most people“.
Action: Clinicians will find this MeReC Extra to be useful and informative. It is of the usual high standard expected from the NPC.
Bookmark in del.icio.us