Men who use common analgesics--- aspirin, acetaminophen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs --- appear to have an increased risk for hypertension compared with peers who do not regularly use such drugs, according to an article in the February 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin are among the most commonly used drugs in the United States, according to background information in the article. Two large studies have recently suggested that analgesics may be associated with increased risk of hypertension in women. However, the association previously had not been extensively studied in men.

John P. Forman, MSc, MD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, and colleagues followed a total of 16,031 male health professionals (average age 64.6 years) who did not have a history of hypertension.

The men were asked in 2000 and again in 2002 about whether and how often they used three types of pain relievers: acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and aspirin. They were also asked to report if their physician had diagnosed hypertension.

Over four years of follow-up, 1,968 men developed hypertension. Compared with men who did not take analgesics, those who took acetaminophen six or seven days a week had a 34 percent higher risk of hypertension. Those who took nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs six or seven days a week had a 38 percent higher risk and those who took aspirin six or seven days a week had a 26 percent higher risk.

The researchers also looked at the total number of pills taken each week, regardless of type. Compared with men who took no pills, men who took 15 or more pills each week had a 48 percent higher risk of hypertension.

"These data add further support to the hypothesis that non-narcotic analgesics independently elevate the risk of hypertension," the authors wrote. "Given their common consumption and the high prevalence of hypertension, our results may have substantial public health implications and suggest that these agents be used with greater caution. The contribution of non-narcotic analgesics to the hypertension disease burden merits further study."