Serious Complications Seen With Acetaminophen Use in Seniors
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2024 -- In older adults, acetaminophen use is associated with serious complications, according to a study published online Nov. 24 in Arthritis Care & Research.
Jaspreet Kaur, M.P.H., Ph.D., from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, and colleagues examined the safety of oral acetaminophen at its therapeutic dose in adults aged 65 years and older in a population-based cohort study. Acetaminophen exposure was defined as at least two prescriptions within six months of the first prescription (index date). Propensity scores (PS) were calculated for acetaminophen prescription, and inverse probability treatment weighting using PS and PS-matched analyses were undertaken to account for confounding.
The study included 180,483 and 402,478 acetaminophen users and nonusers, respectively. The researchers observed associations for acetaminophen use with increased risks for peptic ulcer bleeding, uncomplicated peptic ulcers, lower gastrointestinal bleeding, heart failure, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease (adjusted hazard ratios, 1.24, 1.20, 1.36, 1.09, 1.07, and 1.19, respectively).
"Despite its perceived safety, acetaminophen is associated with several serious complications," the authors write. "Given its minimal analgesic effectiveness, the use of acetaminophen as the first-line oral analgesic for long-term conditions in older people requires careful reconsideration."
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2024
Read this next
Finerenone + Empagliflozin Offers Greater Benefit in CKD, T2DM
MONDAY, June 9, 2025 -- For patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, combination finerenone plus empagliflozin leads to a greater reduction in the urinary...
Childhood Cancer Survivors Have Increased Risk for CKD, Hypertension
THURSDAY, May 22, 2025 -- Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) have an increased risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension, according to a study published online May 19...
Many Heart Failure Patients Do Not See a Cardiologist Annually
THURSDAY, May 22, 2025 -- About 40 percent of patients with heart failure diagnosis do not see a cardiologist annually, according to a study published online May 18 in the...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.