It is estimated that 200 million people are living with coronary heart disease, which remains one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Those living with coronary heart disease are at an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death. Pathophysiology of coronary heart disease revolves around inflammation which leads to plaque build-up. Antibiotics are known to hold anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. It is theorized that reductions in inflammation could prevent cardiovascular events which may reduce suffering, risk of death and hospital admission rates in patients with coronary heart disease. This article critically appraises a systematic review that assessed the risk of antibiotics used as secondary prevention for coronary heart disease.
Keywords: Antibiotics; Coronary heart disease; Critical appraisal; Drug therapy; Randomised control trial; Systematic review.