Grant: Operating Grant: Priority Announcement (IPPH)

Pain related to nerve disease is an important health problem because it is often severe, persistent, and resistant to simple pain relievers. Other medications that provide some pain relief and improve quality of life include some antidepressants, anti-epileptics, and narcotics. However, there is evidence to suggest that these pain medications may increase the risk of heart disease. Given the increasing number of older persons at higher risk of heart disease that are also taking these pain medications, it is important to evaluate the safety of these medications. In this study, we will use anonymized information from Québec's health care databases to identify a group of older adults that have been diagnosed with pain related to nerve disease. We will compare the risk of heart failure, heart attacks, and irregular heart beat in users of various pain medications with that of non-users of these medications. This population-based study will contribute valuable information about the relative safety of the various pain medications that are used in routine practice. The results of this study will enable older adults and their doctors to make informed decisions about the use of pain medications in order to exploit the benefits of these medications while minimizing their potential for harm.