Analgesic Use and Renal Function in Men

CONTEXT Several case-control studies suggest an association between analgesic use and increased risk of chronic renal disease, but few cohort studies have examined this association. OBJECTIVE To determine whether analgesic use is associated with risk of renal dysfunction. DESIGN AND SETTING Cohort study of analgesic use data from the Physicians' Health Study, which lasted 14 years from September 1982 to December 1995 with annual follow-up. PARTICIPANTS A total of 11 032 initially healthy men who provided blood samples and self-report of analgesic use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Elevated creatinine level defined as 1.5 mg/dL (133 µmol/L) or higher and a reduced creatinine clearance defined as 55 mL/min (0.9 mL/s) or less, and self-reported use of acetaminophen, aspirin, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (never [