People who use certain painkillers over an extended period of time may have an increased risk of suffering a heart attack, a new study suggests.

The UK study focused on commonly used painkillers known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) It found that when used in high doses, two NSAIDs - ibuprofen and diclofenac - ‘increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, on average causing about three extra heart attacks a year in every 1,000 patients treated, one of which would be fatal'.

According to lead researcher, Prof Colin Baigent of Oxford University, these risks, while small are significant. However, he emphasised that they are ‘mainly relevant to people with arthritis who need to take high doses over a long period'.

"A short course of lower dose tablets purchased without a prescription, for example for a muscle sprain, is not likely to be hazardous," he explained.

The study involved an analysis of almost 650 trials involving more than 350,000 people. It found that high doses of ibuprofen and diclofenac increased the risk of a major heart-related event, such as a heart attack or stroke, by around one-third. However most of this increased risk was due to an increased risk of suffering a heart attack.

"For many arthritis patients, NSAIDs reduce joint pain and swelling effectively and help them to enjoy a reasonable quality of life. This new research shows how to calculate the likely size of any risks of NSAIDs for an individual patient, which should help doctors and their patients when they consider the treatment options," Prof Baigent said.

The researchers added that while people who do not take painkillers often should not be concerned, ‘those who need regularly prescribed painkillers should speak to their doctor about which drug is the most suitable choice for them'.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, The Lancet.