Therapy of nonspecific lower back pain in patients with high cardiovascular risk

Abstract

To evaluate the possibility of using symptomatic slow acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOA) in patients with nonspecific lower back pain and high cardiovascular risk. The study registered as the observational program 'Possibilities of SYSADOA-therapy in patients with nonspecific lower back pain and high cardiovascular risk' was organized in outpatient clinics with sequential inclusion of patients (n=315) with lower back pain. All patients randomized into 5 main groups by method of envelopes were treated with different SYSADOA. The control group (group 6) included 63 patients without lower back pain syndrome. The duration of follow-up was 9 months. The results of the first 3 months of observation of group 1 treated with chondroitin sulfate (chondroguard) compared to the control group are presented. On the 21st day of therapy, the pain level decreased by more than 62% in group 1. There were no changes in the plasma hemostasis parameters (thrombin time, prothrombin index, activated partial thromboplastin time) and glomerular filtration rate, which was comparable with the control group. Chondroguard is safe for patients with comorbid osteoarthritis and high cardiovascular risk both in short and repeated long-term treatment.